TIB warns over new pay structure

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has reminded that the government had expressed hope that the new national pay structure for government employees would play an important role in building an efficient, dynamic and people-friendly public administration when it was approved in the cabinet. TIB has said in a written statement on Tuesday that there was exactly the same kind of optimism during the implementation of the eighth pay scale in 2015 as well, but in reality the result was completely the opposite. Against the increase in salaries and allowances, the extent and depth of irregularities, corruption and bribery in government institutions had rather increased at a higher rate.

TIB is viewing the approval of the new pay structure in the cabinet as a positive step. However, the organization has called for ensuring the obligation of updating and publishing the income-expenditure accounts of government employees and their dependent family members on an annual basis as a precondition for implementation so that the experience of 2015 is not repeated this time.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “Despite the severe limitation of financial capacity, the decision to implement the new pay scale for government employees in three phases has been taken, which is very logical. If the salaries and allowances of government employees are not consistent with the cost of living, it is impossible to expect the highest professional excellence and corruption-free service from them.”

However, he believes that the condition of transparency must also be fulfilled to ensure the benefits. He said, “To get the desired benefits of this increase in their salaries and allowances from the people’s tax money, the obligation of updating including publishing the accounts of income and assets of government employees at all levels and their dependent family members on an annual basis must be implemented.”

Iftekharuzzaman expressed the opinion in favour of not making the new pay structure applicable for employees who do not publish asset statements. He said, “It is inappropriate for the new ‘pay-scale’ to be applicable for those who will not publish their asset statements. If this condition is implemented, it will be easier to ensure transparency and accountability along with corruption and harassment-free service in the government sector.”

Regarding honest officers and employees, he said, “It must be remembered that there are many government employees who perform professional duties and live honestly staying above irregularities and corruption. For them this new pay scale is completely just and essential. On the other hand, for those who are engaged in acquiring illegal money and assets through irregularities, corruption and abuse of power dishonestly, this benefit is as unreasonable as it is completely unnecessary.”

Mentioning the obligation of publishing asset statements as a tested method in global practice, TIB has said in the statement that there is no way for the people to get rid of the vicious cycle of corruption in the government sector if this obligation is not ensured. The organisation reminds that all expenses including the salaries and allowances of government employees are borne from the tax money of the people who are victims of corruption. TIB wants to believe that this time at least it will be an exception to the previous experience.

The organization has also given another warning in the statement. TIB believes that there is a possibility of inflation including an increase in the prices of daily commodities as a result of the increase in salaries and allowances, which may further increase the hardship of low-income working men and women including the general people who are already disoriented by the rise in commodity prices. TIB has expected the far-sightedness of the government in determining the course of action on this matter as well as fulfilling the conditions for implementing the salaries and allowances.