New Delhi, Jan 9: Uncertainty hangs over the fate of minimum pay hike beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission or 7th CPC with the government keeping silence over its stand on no Pay Commission in future. There had been reports that the government was considering to raise minimum pay to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000, which was recommended by the 7th Pay Commission and approved by the Cabinet. However, no official announcement has been made yet in this regard.
The central government employees had high hopes with the National Anomaly Committee (NAC), which was formed to resolve all matters related to the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission‘s recommendations. However, a letter from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said the issue of hiking minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission doesn’t come under the preview of the NAC. Latest reports suggested the government is likely to form a high-level committee to fix new pay structure beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission.
Besides, in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha on January 05, Minister of State for Finance P Radhakrishnan said no proposal on scrapping central pay commission in future was under consideration, reported Sen Times. Radhakrishnan was asked, “is government mulling not to form any Pay Commission for increasing salaries and allowances of central government employees and pensioners in future?”
The minister replied, “no such proposals at present under consideration.” It was further reported that the Centre was mulling not to form any Pay Commission for increasing salaries and allowances of central government employees and pensioners in future.
The central government employees have been asking to raise minimum pay to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times. The government had approved recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on a hike in salary and allowances in June 2016 and July 2017 respectively.
The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a 14.27 percent hike in basic pay — the lowest in 70 years, raising minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 month. The central government employees have warned the government to go on indefinite strike if it doesn’t raise minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission.