7th Pay Commission: New salary without arrears from April

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The end of the 2017-18 financial year is likely to bring in good news for the lakhs of government employees as reports are there that the Narendra Modi-led Central government is mulling to take a final call on the further hike in basic pay demand of the employees.

It is believed that the Central government employees’ most of the problems, especially financial, will be solved if government accepts their demand to increase the minimum pay.

Meanwhile, the bone of contention is whether Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will consider raising the salary of the employees as per their demand- the employees have been demanding Rs 26,000 as the minimum pay against the present Rs 18,000.

The government is reportedly mulling to increase the pay by Rs 3000 (to Rs 21,000). But the employees are of the view that the minimal increase in the pay will have no positive impact on their financial position. Besides, the government is in no mood to give arrears to the employees as per the further hike; which means the government employees will get further hike but without arrears.

“If the government increases the fitment factor 3 times, the problems will continue to hunt us; 3.68 times fitment factor hike from the existing 2.57 times can only work for us,” said a government employee.

If reports are to be believed, the government will implement the new salary with effect from April 1, 2016. However, there is no confirmation yet from the government or the concerned department or ministry.

“We don’t have any faith on this government. You would have noticed, all the policies introduced by the Modi government are anti-employees. The government has failed us. But hopes are still there,” said another employee.

The government had earlier promised to hike the pay only after the Dearness Allowance (DA) crosses 50 per cent with an aim to keep a balance between the salary of the Central government employee and the market price.