The government has increased the monthly salary for outsourced manpower of state-owned and state-run organisations after around six years by Tk 570 to Tk 1,102 in several cities and categories.

Last week, the Ministry of Finance issued a related circular while it added three new categories apart from the existing five. At present, around 60,000 people are engaged as outsourced workers of government offices and 10,000 are working in state-run enterprises.

According to the circular, the outsourced manpower will get two yearly festival bonuses, a new year allowance, and be allowed a certain number of leaves every year.

Furthermore, women will get maternity leave, and all manpower will have to be included in the universal pension scheme.

There are three types of salary structures for three types of places. The highest salary is set for manpower working in the Dhaka metropolitan area.

For category one workers in Dhaka city, the monthly salary is now Tk 20,212, while it was Tk 19,110 previously, as per the salary circular of 2019. Category one refers to drivers (heavy), electricians, lift mechanics, and technicians.

Those of the same category working in the Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Savar municipalities will get Tk 19,080 each monthly, up from Tk 18,120.

Other than these cities, outsourced workers of the same category will get Tk 18,514, up from Tk 17,630.

For the second category — drivers (light), plumbers, masons, carpenters, pump operators, generator operators, and meter readers — those working in Dhaka city will now get Tk 19,636 instead of Tk 18,610.

 The same category of workers in the Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Savar municipalities will get a new salary of Tk 18,540, up from Tk 17,620.

 In other parts of Bangladesh, outsourced workers will now get a salary of Tk 17,992 compared to Tk 17,130 previously.

 For the third category — assistant engine mechanics, tailors, and divers — the new salary will be Tk 19,236, up from Tk 18,210, for those working in Dhaka metropolitan areas.

 The same category working in the Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Savar municipalities will get Tk 18,165, up from Tk 17,220.

 Other than in these cities, workers of the third category will now get a salary of Tk 17,630, while it was Tk 16,730 previously.

 For the fourth category — laundry operators, assistant electricians, cooks, gardeners, and experienced labourers — the new salary will be Tk 18,660, up from Tk 17,910.

 For the same category, those who work in the Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Savar municipalities will get Tk 17,625, up from Tk 16,920.

 Other than in these cities, the salary of fourth category workers will be Tk 17,108 compared to Tk 16,430 previously.

 For the fifth category — security guards, cleaners, electric helpers, carpenter helpers, sanitary helpers, pump helpers, and liftmen — the new salary will be Tk 18,180, up from Tk 17,610.

 For the same category, those who work in the Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Savar municipalities will get Tk 17,175, up from Tk 16,620.

 Other than in these cities, the salary of fifth category workers will be Tk 16,673, while it was Tk 16,130.

 The government introduced three special categories to cater to specialised service providers.

 For the first special category — sociologists, engineering service providers, trainers, researchers, managerial service providers, and IT service providers — the salary will be Tk 42,978 in the Dhaka metropolitan area.

 For those of the same special category working in the Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Savar municipalities, the salary will be Tk 40,302. Meanwhile, it will be Tk 38,964 for those who work in other cities.

 For workers in the second special category — engineering service providers (diploma), associate trainers, assistant inspection service providers, foremen, and technicians — the salary will be Tk 28,369 in the Dhaka metropolitan area.

 Those who work in the Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Savar municipalities under the same special category will now get Tk 26,636. Meanwhile, it will be Tk 25,769 for those working in other cities.

 For the third special category — assistant trainers and assistant technicians — the salary will be Tk 22,598 in the Dhaka metropolitan area.

 Those who work in the Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Savar municipalities under this special category will get Tk 21,279 per month, while it will be Tk 20,620 for those in other cities.

 According to the new guideline, outsourced workers will get 15 days off every calendar year and women can avail themselves of 45 days of maternity leave.

 All of them will get two festival bonuses, which are 50 percent of their monthly salary, and a new year bonus equivalent to 20 percent of their monthly salary.