7th Pay Commission latest news: 5 recent developments you might have missed

As inflation is eating up all the benefits the central government employees receive under the 7th Pay Commission, it is expected that the Centre may make a big announcement in this regard ahead of festive season. For long, central government employees are demanding minimum salary hike from present Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000 and the fitment factors from current 2.57 times to 3.68 times.  It is also expected that the Centre may increase the minimum salary of its employees by modifying the 7th Pay Commission fitment factor.

Centre may announce the 7th pay commission Dearness Allowance (DA) for the second half of 2019, which is awaited since July 2019 even as some state governments have already announced the DA. If the government announces DA this month, then central employees would get three months' arrears from July to September 2019 with their September salary itself. These employees are expecting 5 percent DA hike in H2-2019.

Indian Railways is likely to declare bonuses to its non-gazetted employees before the festive season. Railways employees get Rs 17,951 as a 78-day bonus, which would be part of the Railway Employees' Productivity Link emolument. These employees were given the same amount in bonus last year as well. However, Railways has not made any announcement in this regard.

The Railway Union, however, said that the bonus amount given to employees is very less, which remained same for the last 7 years. SG Mishra, Secretary of All India Railway Men's Federation, said that the government should change the bonus formula, adding that Rs 17,951 bonus extended to these employees is less than the minimum wage. He said that they should be given at least 80 days' bonus.

In a separate development, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that the state government accepts the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission and will probably implement them from January 1 2020.