April 09, 2005

DON'T LISTEN TO IMF

In a recent post I have argued how Bangladeshi government employees were dragged to corruption out of necessity. Many can brag about the prevailing corruption in Bangladesh, but nobody is eager to go at the root of the problem. The last government pay-increase was eight years ago. How can government employees match their living standard induced with inflation? A typical first class officer in Bangladesh get almost one-forth of an employee in India or Sri-Lanka of a similar position. We are telling them not to get corrupted. Are we providing them with any alternatives than corruption?

According to this report, IMF is trying to defer the new pay commission initiatives taken by the government arguing that it would create an additional burden on the government exchequer. I think these guys study only the balance of payments rather than the other things in perspective. I should give credit to the Bangladeshi finance minister Mr. Saifur Rahman who defended the government move saying if the revenue earnings were raised by half per cent only, the new pay scale could be implemented at ease.

Its true that there will be inflation if the new pay scale is implemented, but it is furthermore important to match the government salaries with current market rate. Please note the private sector pays lot more than the public sector inducing many brilliant students ignoring government jobs. I hope that this would decrease the level of corruption in the country.

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