7th Pay Commission: Employees union to hold a strike over minimum pay hike issue

It has been made clear that the demand to increase minimum pay and fitment factor beyond 7th Pay Commission (7CPC) recommendation, will not come under the purview of National Anomaly Committee (NAC).

This has left nearly 34 lakh civilian employees and 14 lakh defence forces personal frustated and betrayed by the government, which is why the union has decided to go on an indefinite strike to oppose the decision.

A government official in an India.com report said, “It has been We were assured by a group of ministers including Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He has betrayed us and we will not keep quiet.”

Reports suggest that Union Cabinet chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will soon be hearing NAC's report next month.

DK Sengupta, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India earlier in letter to Staff-Side National Council, JCM, mentioned that a total of 18 items have been sent to DoPT for discussion in the NAC meetings. These 18 items are about various issues over which, the Staff-Side has opined, anomaly has arisen as a result of the 7th CPC’s recommendations or absence of them.

Sengupta highlighted adding, "There are also certain items which should be taken up at the Departmental Anomaly Committees of the other administrative Ministries concerned. A few items are those which, for a detailed examination, need more relevant documents/papers etc."

Under the items which needed detailed examination involved Central government's minimum pay scale and fitment factor.

When Union Cabinet approved 7CPC recommendation in June month, they had raised minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 per month and fitment factor to 2.57 times.

However, showing dissatisfaction in the recommendation, the central government employees demanded their pay scale to rise up to Rs 26,000 per month with fitment factor to 3.68.

It is known that government may think of increase pay scale at Rs 21,000 per month and fitment factor 3.00 times.

The centre for now has provide some relief to these employees by doubling their deputation (duty) allowance.

On November 28, 2017, the duty allowance for deputation within station will be payable at the rate of 5% of basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs 4,500 per month . And for deputation, involving change of station, will attract allowance rate of 10% of the basic pay subject to maximum of Rs 9,000 per month.

Moreover, Minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat in a press conference on Sunday, stated that the government has decided to provide benefits to somewhat 12.5 lakh Rajasthan government employees and pensioners with effect from January 01, 2017.

This would add yearly burden of Rs 10,400 crore for Rajasthan government and the arrears are expected to be paid in three installments.

First installment that is 30% of the arrear would be given in April 2018. Followed by another 30% installmen in July and the third (40%) in October of next year.