Pensioners seek changes in pay panel proposals: The Hindu

Members of the All India Postal Employees Union and government pensioners have demanded changes in the recommendations for the seventh Pay Commission, including revision of minimum wages and the rate of annual increment.

Minimum wage

Postal employees, who recently staged a demonstration in the city, demanded that the minimum wages be fixed at Rs.26,000. J. Ramamurthy, State secretary of All India Postal Employees Union, Group C, said: “The overall hike percentage also need to be revised. We had to wait for over a decade for the next Pay Commission.

“We also want the recommendations to incorporate the demand for two increments during promotions and revision of salary every five years. Pension must be revised to 60 per cent of the last drawn salary of the pensioner.”

Indefinite strike planned

The union plans to go on an indefinite strike, along with other Central government employees’ associations, in the first week of March if the suggestions it made are not incorporated in the seventh Pay Commission recommendations.

Pensioners too feel that the pension must be increased to meet the growing expenditure. S.M. Chellaswamy, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Elders Welfare Association, said: “At present, there is a suggestion that the pension amount be increased by 20 per cent when the retired person turns 80. But, we want the age limit to be revised to 75 years to enable pensioners meet their medical expenditures.”

Source : The Hindu