New Delhi, July 28: The 7th Pay Commission or 7th CPC had recommended a 14.27 per cent hike in basic pay, increasing minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 per month for central government employees. The government approved the 7th Pay Commission 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.

In a welcome move, the government has reportedly agreed to raise salary beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. However, it is not clear whether the government will increase minimum pay to Rs 26,000 with fitment factor 3.68 times, as demanded by central government employees. Several reports have suggested that the government may increase minimum pay to Rs 21,000 from Rs 18,000 which was recommended by the 7th Pay Commission.

According to some reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may announce salary hike beyond the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on August 15, i.e. Independence Day. Along with the salary hike, the prime minister is likely to raise the retirement age to 62 years from 60.

“The two announcements that PM 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,” an official had earlier said.

Here it may be noted that 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 above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 28, 2018 05:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).