No Major Changes in Pay Hike, Fitment Factor Likely to be Increased

No Major Changes in Pay Hike, Fitment Factor Likely to be Increased

New Delhi, Sept 28: The National Anomaly Committee (NAC), formed to look into pay anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations, is unlikely to make major changes to pay hike except raising the fitment factor. Once the NAC submits its report on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for the central government employees, Department of Expenditure will examine it.

The government in June approved the 7th Pay Commission recommendations for its employees with higher minimum basic pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 per month. However, the central government employees expressed displeasure over the hike in basic pay and asked to raise it to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a 14.27 percent hike in basic pay — the lowest in 70 years.

“The NAC will about to ditto the pay commission recommendation on the hike in pay, only the fitment factor for basic pay will be raised to 3.00 times, instead of the present 2.57 times as approved by the Cabinet on January 29,” a top Finance Ministry official was quoted as saying by Sen Times. The committee may also recommend raising minimum pay to Rs 21,000 from the existing Rs 18,000, under the 7th Pay Commission.

“After due hearing and by majority vote of all its stakeholders, the National Anomaly Committee will make minor changes in hike in pay for central government employees and may recommend hiking minimum pay Rs 21,000 with fitment factor 3.00 from Rs 18,000 with fitment factor 2.57,” he added.

Sources in the Finance Ministry also said the government may release the higher minimum pay, under the 7th Pay Commission, from January next year for the central government employees and pensioners. “The Finance Ministry will hike the pay with raising fitment factor 3.00 times from 2.57 times, will be paid from January next year and minimum pay is likely to get hiked to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000,” they said.