Based on the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission

by Gaurav Gupta Digital Marketing

Based on the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission, the government on Wednesday approved revision in the salaries, gratuity, allowances, and pensions of the judges of the Supreme Court, High Courts and people who've retired. The significant decision came at a time when the National Anomaly Committee (NAC) is going to submit its reports on anomalies in the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission's recommendations.

While the central government workers are waiting to find any positive growth regarding a hike in minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission, the decision to raise the salaries of judges could postpone the announcement on higher minimum pay. Speaking to India.com, a source within central government workers' union said the authorities deliberately delayed the hike in minimum pay past the recommendation of the 7th Pay Commission and saved almost 26,000 crores.

"Eighteen months ago the government had promised us to increase the minimum wage from Rs 18,000 per month to Rs 21,000. According to a rough calculation that the government, every month is saving Rs 3,000 a month on each worker and if the figure is calculated with 18 months and 48 lakh central government workers, the figure reaches close to Rs 26,000 crore. This much has been saved by the authorities in last 18 months," the source said.

The 7th Pay Commission was poised to have priced the Centre Rs 1.02 lakh crore. If media reports are to be believed, the government is likely to raise the minimum pay to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000, which was recommended by the 7th Pay Commission and accepted by the Cabinet. The higher minimum cover would be released from April 2018.

On the other hand, the central government workers are asking to raise minimum pay to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a 14.27 percent hike in the basic cover -- the lowest in 70 years, raising minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 month.

Meanwhile, a top leader of a fundamental government workers' union asked the Centre to raise minimum cover past the recommendation of their 7th Pay Commission or face backlash.