The Burmese military junta may soon increase the monthly salary of government employees, some regime employees said.
 
They said that though there is no official announcement from the government; it might be declared officially on 27 March the Armed Forces Day.
 
“We heard about our salary, but we don’t know what the percentage of hike will be. Actually we are hoping since the previous increment was also given on the same day in 2005 after we heard rumours,” said a government servant in Chin state.
 
In fact, government employees are struggling for their livelihood as their monthly salaries are not much. This leads them to do illegal activities to generate side income. They do it by collecting tax from civilians and taking bribe and so on. To stop such things the regime needs to increase pay, he added.
 
“It’s good if there is an increase. The previous increment was 30 per cent but it became the normal salary after two or three years as prices of essential and other commodities kept increasing by the day. At the same time, it’s not good to increase only for government employees as it will result in market prices going up immediately. This will affect pensioners and civilians who will surely face financial crisis,” said a pensioner in Chin state.
 
An employee on condition of anonymity said, “The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) government can do whatever it wants like increasing salaries, giving identity cards without charge and providing motor-cycle license freely when they need the people’s support. Now too they are resorting to such stunts to woo for votes for the 2010 general election from government employees.”
 
In 2005, the SPDC government has increased salaries by 30 per cent for its employees. The pensioners’ salaries were also increased. But the market prices did not go down and essential and other commodity prices continue to rise higher and higher.