Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has described the cabinet's approval of the new national pay scale for government employees as a positive step while congratulating those who will be eligible for the benefits. However, the organisation has reiterated its call for making the implementation of the new pay scale conditional on ensuring that government employees and their dependent family members update and disclose their income and expenditure records annually.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, the Executive Director of the TIB, reiterated his previous call for the mandatory disclosure of assets by government employees following the announcement of the new pay structure in the national budget. He also emphasized the importance of following up with the appropriate authorities at the highest levels of government. He stated in a statement today that the decision to implement the new pay scale for government employees in three phases is highly reasonable, despite the severe constraints on financial capacity. Unless the salaries and allowances of government employees are commensurate with the cost of living, it is impossible to expect the highest level of professional excellence and corruption-free services from them. However, to ensure that the increased salaries and allowances funded by taxpayers’ money deliver the desired benefits, the requirement for government employees at all levels and their dependent family members to update and disclose their income and assets annually must be enforced. In other words, the new increase in salaries and allowances should apply only to those employees who update and disclose their income, expenditure, and asset declarations every year. The new "pay scale" should only be applied to people who disclose this information. Putting this requirement into practice would make it simpler to guarantee accountability and transparency as well as public services free from harassment and corruption.”

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman further said, “It must be recognised that many government employees perform their professional duties honestly, remain free from irregularities and corruption, and lead honest lives. For them, the new pay scale is entirely justified and essential. On the other hand, for those engaged in acquiring illicit wealth and assets through dishonesty, irregularities, corruption, and abuse of power, such benefits are not only unjustified but entirely unnecessary. Their appetite for wealth is so insatiable that if the new pay scale is implemented across the board without ensuring effective accountability mechanisms, the level of corruption in the public sector will increase further. We have already seen evidence of this in the past.”

Referring to the government’s expectation that the new pay structure would enhance the financial security and motivation of government employees while playing an important role in building an efficient, dynamic, and people-oriented public administration, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “Previously, there were similar expectations surrounding the eighth pay scale, which was last implemented in 2015, but the reality turned out to be entirely different. Salaries and allowances increased, but the extent and depth of irregularities, corruption, and bribery in government institutions escalated even faster. We would like to believe that this time will be different. Mandatory disclosure of asset declarations must be ensured as a globally tested approach to controlling corruption in the public sector; otherwise, citizens will have no way to escape the vicious cycle of corruption. Yet it is the money of the people, who are the victims of corruption, that pays for the salaries and allowances of government employees and all other public expenditures.”

Moreover, the increase in salaries and allowances of government employees carries a significant risk of further increasing the prices of essential commodities and contributing to inflation. This could make things worse for everyone, especially working women and men with low incomes who already have to deal with rising prices. In this regard, TIB expects the government to demonstrate foresight in determining the necessary measures and in implementing the aforementioned condition attached to the new salaries and allowances.