The government employees may draw their salary as per the new pay scale from January 1 next year which has been made effective from July1 this year, finance minister AMA Muhith said. 

"I hope the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) on the new pay scale may be issued by this month. In that case the salary for December which the employees will draw in January will be as per the new pay scale", Muhith told reporters at his secretariat office today.

Replying to a query as to whether the arrear will be paid at the same time, Muhith said, "It depends on the accounts officer of the concerned agency, department or ministry. If they can prepare the bill by fixing the salary by that time the payment and the arrear will be given at the same time or it may take some time to get the arrear."

"If the payment of arrear is delayed, it is good as the amount will be deposited to the account of the staff," he also said.

The time scale and selection grade being abolished in the new pay scale approved by the cabinet, the staff of many cadres took the selection grade after July as per the existing pay scale. Replying to query in this regard, the finance minister said, "The new system will come into effect after the SRO is issued."

"If anybody takes time scale or selection grade before the issuance of the SRO, they can do so," he added.