Central government employees demand minimum Rs 26,000 pay hike; threaten strike

Central government employees demand minimum Rs 26,000 pay hike; threaten strike

Central government employees have demanded a hike in the minimum pay in the upcoming Budget 2016 to be presented by the Finance Minister on February 29. 

The government employees have demanded a minimum salary of Rs 26,000 as against Rs 18,000 recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission while threatening to go on strike if demands not met.

"Minimum Pay needs to be revised to Rs 26,000 per month and the minimum pay of Rs 18,000 as recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission is not acceptable," said Minutes of the meeting of Joint Secretary (IC) with the members of the Staff-Side of the Standing Committee (National Council-JCM).

The Secretary, Staff-side, Standing Committee (National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery) said, the Staff-side is "not at all happy" with the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission and, in fact, "no section of the employees is satisfied", as the Commission has recommended a minimal pay increase as compared to the previous Pay Commissions.

The Secretary further stated that an amicable and mutually negotiated settlement of these demands is necessary as "non-acceptance would further cause resentment in the employees".

The Secretary "informed that Staff-Side has already made their stand clear to go on strike from April 11, 2016, if their demands are not considered and no amicable settlement happens", the Minutes said.

The meeting was held to discuss the issues raised by the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) in their letter addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, regarding their Charter of Demands on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

The Staff-Side also said the central government employees need to be excluded from the National PensionScheme (NPS), a long pending demand. The fixed monthly medical allowance for pensioners who are not covered by the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and REHS needs to be increased from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 is another major demand.

The Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell) assured the Staff-Side that the concerns and demands made by them would be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries for consideration after examining the same in the light of the recommendations of the Commission.

The scheme of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) is a platform for constructive dialogue between the representatives of the Staff-Side and the official side for peaceful resolution of all disputes between the Government as the employer and the employees.

The demands are submitted to the Implementation Cell, created in the Finance Ministry, to work as Secretariat for the Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha.

The 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, when implemented, would have a bearing on the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners. Subject to acceptance by the government, the recommendations will take effect from January 1, 2016.

Source: dnaindia.com