New Delhi, July 21: The National Anomaly Committee (NAC), formed to look into anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, has reportedly approved a hike in salaries of central government employees beyond the 7th CPC recommendations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may announce a hike in minimum pay and fitment factor beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on August 15, 2018.

The Official Side of the NAC ageed to hike pay beyond the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary, National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery of Central Government Employees, said in his letter to all members of National Council (Staff Side), JCM dated July 17, 2018. The 22-member NAC, headed by Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), has members from both the official and staff side.

Earlier a report published in Sen Times had said PM Modi may announce higher minimum pay for central government employees on the independence day, August 15.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.

Notably, 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 Jul 21, 2018 12:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).