'Raise Minimum Pay to Rs 26,000 From Rs 18,000 Under 7th CPC'

'Raise Minimum Pay to Rs 26,000 From Rs 18,000 Under 7th CPC'

New Delhi, Aug 31: Even though the government has made it clear that it is not going to hike minimum pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000 under the 7th Pay Commission or 7th CPC, a leader of central government employees’ union reiterated the demand of hike in minimum pay. Speaking to the Sen Times, the union leader said the easiest and simplest solution to solve problems of central government employees is to raise the minimum pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000 under the 7th Pay Commission.

“The current minimum pay is Rs 18,000 under the 7th Pay Commission and hiking it to Rs 25,000 would solve many of central government employees’ economic problems at a single stroke,” the union leader was quoted as saying. He said the pay gap between the maximum pay and the minimum pay in the 7th Pay Commission recommendations was 1:14, which was 1:12 in the 6th Pay Commission. He also expressed disappointment and said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley didn’t keep his words on minimum pay hike.

“It is most unfortunate that, in spite of Finance Minister’s promise, the government has not made any attempt to hike minimum pay till date,” the union leader told the portal. If the 2.57 fitment formula is tinkered with, then salary and pension in general for all central government employees will go up, he said.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Finance has clarified once again that there is no scope to change in minimum pay Rs 18,000, recommended by the 7th Pay Commission and approved by the cabinet. Sources in the Finance Ministry also said the central government employees shouldn’t pin high hopes on National Anomaly Committee, formed to look into pay anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations. The committee had not come forward with any decision of hike in minimum pay till date, said the union leader.

The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a 14.27 per cent hike in basic pay — the lowest in 70 years. The HRA, which constitutes a substantial part of central government employees’ salaries, was also reduced under the 7th Pay Commission. Central government employees have been demanding to raise minimum pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000 under the 7th Pay Commission.