New Delhi, Mar 2: Amid Holi celebrations, here is a good news for the central government employees on a hike in minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission or 7th CPC. If a Zee Business report is to be believed, the government may raise minimum pay to Rs 26,000 from Rs 18,000 and fitment factor to 3.78 times from 2.57 times that were recommended by the 7th Pay Commission and approved by the Cabinet.
The government had approved the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission in June 2016 and raised minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 month with fitment factor 2.57 times. Since then, the central government employees have been asking to raise minimum pay to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor 3.68 times.
There had been reports that the government was planning to hike minimum pay to Rs 21,000 with fitment factor 3.00 times, beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. However, an official confirmation never came. The government has reportedly formed a panel to take the final call on a hike in minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, a day after the Cabinet cleared the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, had promised central government employees to appoint a high-level committee to look into the issue. Finance Ministry officials have said that the government was considering to announce a hike in minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission in April this year.
Central government employees, who get salaries from pay matrix level 1 to 5 can expect a salary increase from April. However, middle-level and top-level employees will continue to get salaries as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.