PUTRAJAYA, April 4 — Public school teachers will now have an additional pay grade for their career progression, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

The move will cost the government RM7.4 million to implement, Najib said during his speech at the 16th Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam (MAPPA).

"The government has agreed to create another layer, which is DG56, for academic services officers who have been in DG54 for more than five years, and have given excellent service.

"The creation of this DG56 grade would give promotion opportunities to 323 officers, with a financial implication of RM7.4 million, beginning January 1, 2019,” he added.

The PM also announced a raft of other incentives for civil servants today.

Najib also announced the extension of healthcare services to parents of contractual government workers, which will 42,867 staff beginning July 1.

He also revealed a special RM1 million infusion to the Congress of Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs).

Retired civil servants will also get a 1 per cent increment to their pension rate from July 1 until December 31.

"This is as an increase to the 2 per cent hike received by pensioners on January 1, 2018,” Najib added.

In a veiled swipe at former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Najib said: "In fact, that retiree whose age is 93 will also receive this.”