New Delhi, Jun 26: There has been no word from the government on the much-awaited hike in minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission since March. All eyes are now August 15 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to announce a hike in minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

PM Modi may announce higher minimum pay for central government employees on the independence day, August 15, a report published in Sen Times had claimed earlier this month. Along with the hike beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, the government is likely to raise the retirement age to 62 years from 60, it had added.

“Under pressure from the coming general election due by May 2019, the Modi government has indicated that it may hike pay of central government employees beyond the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, seeking to win the Lok Sabha polls because the government knows one government employees can persuade at least 100 voters for the party,” a government official was quoted as saying in the report.

“The two announcements that Prime Minister Modi is likely to make in his speech from Red Fort on 15 August, the Independence Day for central government employees are an increase of pay and the raising retirement age to 62 years from 60,” the official added. However, the government, in March, said that it wasn’t considering raising minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.

“The minimum pay of Rs.18,000/- p.m. and fitment factor of 2.57 are based on the specific recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission in the light of the relevant factors taken into account by it. Therefore, no change therein is at present under consideration,” Minister of State Finance, P Radhakrishnan told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The 7th Pay Commission had recommended a 14.27 per cent increase in basic pay, raising minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 month. The government approved the recommendations in June 2016. Since then, central government employees have been asking to raise minimum pay to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor 3.68 times from 2.57 times.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2018 01:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).