The government had approved a hike in salary and allowances as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission or 7th CPC in June 2016 and July 2017 respectively. Since then, the central government employees have been demanding a raise in minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission. Though there is no official announcement, media reports suggested that the government is likely to raise minimum pay to Rs 21,000 with 17 per cent hike over Rs 18,000 existing minimum pay, which was recommended by the 7th Pay Commission.
The 7th Pay Commission, led by Justice AK Mathur, raised minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 per month and fitment factor to 2.57 times, which was approved by the Cabinet on June 28 last year. However, the central government employees expressed dissatisfaction over the hike and demanded to raise minimum pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times. To resolve all matters related to the anomalies in the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission‘s recommendations, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had formed National Anomaly Committee (NAC).
If media reports are to be believed, the NAC has been given a green signal by the government to raise the minimum pay beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission. The NAC may suggest hiking minimum pay to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000. Fitment factor will be raised to 3.00 times from the existing 2.57 times. The committee is expected to hold a key meeting this month and submit its report to the Empowered Committee of Secretaries and the Department of Expenditure for further examination.
The Cabinet is likely to take up the pay hike over the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission for the central government employees by the end of January, said a report by Sen Times. “The meeting of NAC is likely to be held in this month for hike in basic pay with fitment factor 3.00. Accordingly, minimum pay will be hiked Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000,” a top official of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions was quoted as saying.
The recommendations of NAC of hike in minimum pay would be finalised in January after examining by the Department of Expenditure as well as the Empowered Committee of Secretaries and following that it will be placed before the Cabinet by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, he assured.
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