TIB Links New Pay Scale to Annual Asset Disclosure

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has welcomed the Cabinet’s approval of the new national pay structure for government employees, but called for its implementation to be tied to mandatory annual disclosure of income, expenditure and assets by employees and their dependent family members.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman reiterated the organisation’s demand for mandatory asset disclosure following the announcement of the new pay structure in the national budget.

He said implementing the new pay structure in three phases was reasonable given the government’s limited fiscal capacity. However, he stressed that higher salaries and allowances funded by taxpayers must be accompanied by stronger accountability and transparency measures.

“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,” Iftekharuzzaman said.

He said government employees at all levels and their dependent family members should be required to update and disclose their income, expenditure and assets annually.

According to TIB, the new pay structure should apply only to employees who comply with the annual disclosure requirement. Such a condition, it said, would strengthen accountability and transparency and help ensure public services free from harassment, irregularities and corruption.

Iftekharuzzaman acknowledged that many government employees perform their duties honestly and remain free from corruption and irregularities.

“For them, the new pay scale is entirely justified and essential,” he said.

However, he said employees involved in acquiring illicit wealth and assets through dishonesty, corruption, irregularities and abuse of power should not receive the same benefits without effective accountability.

He warned that implementing the new pay structure across the board without accountability mechanisms could lead to a further increase in corruption in the public sector.

Referring to the government’s expectation that the new pay structure would improve the financial security and motivation of public servants and help build an efficient, dynamic and people-oriented administration, he said similar expectations accompanied the eighth national pay scale introduced in 2015.

“Salaries and allowances increased, but the extent and depth of irregularities, corruption and bribery in government institutions escalated even faster,” he said.

Iftekharuzzaman said TIB hoped the outcome would be different this time and stressed that mandatory asset disclosure is a globally recognised mechanism for strengthening accountability and curbing corruption in the public sector.

He also pointed out that government employees’ salaries, allowances and other public expenditures are ultimately financed by taxpayers, many of whom are themselves victims of corruption.

TIB also expressed concern that higher salaries and allowances could put additional pressure on the prices of essential commodities and contribute to inflation.

Such an impact, it said, could increase the financial burden on ordinary citizens, particularly low-income workers already struggling with rising living costs.

Against this backdrop, TIB urged the government to ensure that annual disclosure of income, expenditure and assets is effectively enforced as a condition for receiving the benefits of the new pay structure.