Special benefits for employees, pensioners from July 1

The government has announced to give a special benefit for public sector employees and pensioners, effective from July 1.

According to a circular from the finance ministry, the move came aiming to soften their incomes.

The circular said employees in Grade 1 to Grade 9 will obtain an additional 10 percent of their basic salary each year, while those in Grade 10 to Grade 20 will get 15 percent.

The minimum benefit will be Tk1,000 for employees and Tk 500 for pensioners, it said.

Post-retirement leave recipients, suspended workers (at 50% of their previous basic), and specific contractual appointees will also be eligible for the benefit. 

Employees on unpaid leave or those who gave up their entire pension without having it restored, however, will not be covered.

The benefit must be paid for out of the budgets of state-owned and self-governing organisations that are not included in the revenue budget.