Thousands of MPO Teachers Await New Pay: When Will Increased Salaries Arrive?
Over 600,000 teachers and employees in Bangladesh are waiting for their new salaries. These staff work in private educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme. The government has approved a new national pay structure for them.
Government employees began receiving their new salaries from July 1. They will get three months of past payments with their October salary. However, MPO-listed teachers and employees may have to wait longer.
The Ministry of Finance has made the new pay structure active for government staff. But it is not clear when MPO teachers and employees will get their increased pay. Officials said the Finance Division must issue a specific order.
Sources close to the matter suggest that this process could take time. MPO teachers and employees might receive their new salaries by November or December. The exact date depends on when the Finance Division releases its order.
The MPO scheme helps over 600,000 education staff nationwide. This includes about 400,000 staff in secondary and higher education. Nearly 200,000 work in madrasahs. More than 23,000 are in technical education.
Under the MPO scheme, the government provides monthly money. This covers 100 percent of basic salaries and some allowances. These benefits include medical help.
The government decided last year to raise the house rent allowance for MPO staff. It is now 15 percent of their basic salaries. Before, they received Tk 1,000 each month for house rent.
The new pay structure will give MPO teachers higher basic salaries. They will also get more house rent allowance. For example, a lecturer at a private college will get Grade 9 salary. This is the same as a lecturer in a government college.
Basic salaries for government employees have increased significantly. They went up by 100 percent to 142 percent, depending on the grade. The lowest grade, Grade 20, increased from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000. The highest, Grade 1, rose from Tk 78,000 to Tk 156,000.
Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel spoke about the delay. He is the Director General of Secondary and Higher Education. He said discussions are ongoing with the ministry. The aim is for MPO teachers to get their new salaries as soon as possible.
