New
Delhi: A central minister thinks most central government employees are
good workers – and they deserve a pay raise and advocated to implement
Seventh pay commission for them from next budget.
Seventh Central Pay Commission Chairman Justice A K Mathur
The
minister wouldn't say whether he agrees with the central government
proposal not to merge 50 percent dearness allowance (DA) after its hiked
to 100 percent, but he did say central government employees should not
lose ground as inflation erodes their salaries.
“We
realised that government employees are upset as it is becoming
difficult for them to manage their household expenses with the high
inflation rate. They protested against us not to merge 50 percent
dearness allowance with basic pay before implementation of Seventh Pay
Commission,” the central minister told us, requesting anonymity.
"People
that work in the central government, I find they're hard working, they
care about their country, they are patriotic, they do a good job" the
minister said.
It
is also time to stop demonizing central government employees and to
encourage them, he said, the recommendations of Seventh Pay Commission
for central government employees will be implemented in the next
financial year.
The
Seventh Pay Commission, headed by Justice A K Mathur, was appointed by
the previous UPA government in February 2014 for 18 months. Its terms
was extended in August 2015 by four months till December 31, 2015. The
recommendations of the commission would be implemented from January 1,
2016.
The
government constitutes the Pay Commission almost every 10 years to
revise the pay scale of its employees and often these are adopted by
states after some modifications.
Besides
pay hikes, the Pay Commissions recommend to hike medical benefits,
House rent allowance, transport allowance and other allowances for
central government employees.
As
part of the exercise, the Commission holds discussions with various
stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing
civil employees as well as Defence services.
Pay
Commission was ready to submit its report by the end of September but
government gave nod to submit its report till December 31.
According
to the Minister, the reports of Seventh Central Pay Commission may be
implicated from April next year and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will
get the pay panel reports shortly.