Why president, PM are not getting a pay hike

Government employees’ salaries rise, but proposal to revise top officeholders’ remuneration remains on hold

The new pay scale has brought higher salaries for government employees, with some top bureaucrats set to earn more in basic pay than the president and the prime minister. Yet the country’s top government executive and the head of state will continue with their previous salaries, as a proposed hike remains on hold.

Why has their remuneration not been revised alongside the pay scale for government employees?

Because it has yet to receive the prime minister’s approval.

Under the ninth pay scale, a secretary’s basic salary has been set at Tk 1.56 lakh, while the cabinet secretary and the principal secretary to the prime minister will receive Tk 1.72 lakh.

By comparison, the president’s monthly remuneration stands at Tk 1.20 lakh and the prime minister’s at Tk 1.15 lakh. Ministers receive Tk 1.05 lakh, while state ministers get Tk 92,000.

Government employees began receiving increased salaries in July. However, the remuneration of the president, prime minister, ministers and state ministers has not been revised alongside the new pay scale.

Why has the usual process of revising their remuneration stalled?

PM yet to give green signal

Cabinet division officials said laws governing remuneration increases for the president, cabinet members and judges are usually amended alongside the implementation of a government pay scale.

Accordingly, the cabinet division had prepared to increase the remuneration of the president, prime minister, ministers and state ministers. Two high-level sources at the prime minister’s office and the cabinet division told The Daily Star that Tarique Rahman put it on hold.

The remuneration, allowances and privileges of the president are governed by the President’s (Remuneration and Privileges) Act. The prime minister’s salary and facilities are determined under the Prime Minister’s (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, while those of ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers are fixed by the Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers (Remuneration and Privileges) Act.

An official at the Prime Minister’s Office, speaking on condition of anonymity, recently told The Daily Star that there was currently no initiative to increase the remuneration of ministers and state ministers, and that no such move was likely anytime soon.

On the day he was sworn in, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that members of parliament would not take duty-free cars or be allotted government plots or flats.

Proposal raised three times

A high-ranking cabinet official, speaking on condition of anonymity yesterday, Sunday, said the proposal to increase the remuneration of public representatives had been brought to the prime minister’s attention soon after the new pay scale was implemented.

“At the time, instructions were given to bring it up later. The matter was subsequently brought to his attention twice more, but no green signal was given. So, it can be said that the remuneration of the president and cabinet members is not increasing for now,” the official said.

He said that the cabinet division was unlikely to raise it again since the prime minister has put it off for three time already.