Why public uni teachers oppose Prottoy pension scheme
Public university teachers said the new pension scheme will create discrimination among university teachers, and discourage the young generation from getting into the profession
The teachers’ room in Dhaka University’s geography department remained locked in Monday, 1 July 2024 morning. Photo: Famiha Suhrawardy Kanka
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The teachers’ room in Dhaka University’s geography department remained locked in Monday, 1 July 2024 morning. Photo: Famiha Suhrawardy Kanka
Public university teachers have called for an indefinite strike starting today (1 July), demanding the withdrawal of the new pension scheme “Prottoy”, which is set to be implemented today.
Besides public universities, the pension scheme will also affect employees working in autonomous, state-owned, and other statutory organisations, along with their subordinates.
What’s in Prottoy scheme:
- 10% of salaries or Tk5,000, whichever is less, will be deducted
- The university will deposit the same amount
- Employees will start getting deposited money per month from the age of 60
- Only those joining on 1 July or onwards must enrol in the new scheme.
How much will they get after retirement:
Contributing just Tk2,500 per month from salaries for 30 years, an employee will receive a pension of Tk62,330 per month upon retirement.
Employees can increase the subscription rate and pay it personally if they wish.
Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association during their protest against the Prottoy pension scheme on Monday, 1 July 2024. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain
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Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association during their protest against the Prottoy pension scheme on Monday, 1 July 2024. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain
What happens now:
- Autonomous bodies and state-owned companies without pension provisions now have the Contributory Provident Fund (CPF).
- Employees contribute 10% of their basic salary
- The company contributes 8.33%
- Employees receive retirement benefits from this fund
- Also received annual gratuity equal to two months of basic salary, funded by government budget
What teachers say:
- Teachers said the scheme will create discrimination among university teachers.
- Some said it would discourage the young generation from joining as university teachers.
- Others said the previous scheme was better than the new one.
Quotes and statements:
“The Prottoy scheme will create discrimination among the old and new employees. If it exists, it will negatively impact the co-workers,” said Zeenat Huda, general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association.
She said, “The current teachers are satisfied with the existing pension scheme. It is not clear why this new scheme has been introduced.”
Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan from the department of Philosophy of Jahangir University said, “The reason why teachers come into this profession is for the security of their pension. If there is no pension security then brilliant students will not come into this profession.”
No classes, no exams:
- As part of the protest, teachers suspended academic activities in public universities.
- No classes or exams have taken place at Dhaka University since this morning.
- Classrooms remained locked.
