New Delhi, July 11: The government has notified higher allowances, under the 7th Pay Commission, for its 4.8 million employees and 5.2 million pensioners. The government approved the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on salary hike of the central government employees in June last year. While the central government employees are unhappy with 14.27 per cent hike in basic pay for central government employees, there no scope for further change in minimum pay and higher allowances, which were given nod by the Union cabinet.
The government approved the 7th Pay Commission with an increase of 14.27 per cent in basic pay for central government employees, the lowest in 70 years and increased minimum pay Rs 18,000 from existing Rs 7,000. However, the central government employees want minimum wage to be hiked to Rs 26,000. But sources in Finance Ministry said the National Anomaly Committee is unlikely to suggest any hike in basic pay and higher allowances. Those who will hope over these issues will gain nothing but no change on 7th Pay Commission, they added.
“The demands of central government employees over hiking their pay scales and allowances are likely not to be considered by the National Anomaly Committee on behalf of the government,” sources in the Finance Ministry were quoted as saying by the Sen Times. “Though Finance minister had promised them that they will get proper pay scales with hiking minimum pay of lower paid employees, after the review of the new pay scales by the the High Level Committee but the government is not ready to consider it,” they added.
The government formed a 22-member National Anomaly Committee headed by Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to look into various pay and allowances related anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations. However, the government will stick with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on pay scales and allowances, sources said.
The government hiked 14 per cent pay and pension for its employees and pensioners under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations with effect from January 1, 2016, in July last year. It also approved recommendations of 7th Pay Commission on higher allowances with 34 modifications on June 28, which comes into effect from July 1, 2017.
