Srinagar, April 24: The Jammu & Kashmir government on Tuesday became the first state in the nation to extend the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) benefits to its employees. The move will benefit over 5 lakh-strong workforce employed by the state.

From this month onwards, the basic salary disbursed to the J&K government employees will be multiplied using the 2.57 fitment factor. Other perks and allowances will be also be hiked as per the 7th pay panel's recommendations.

"Implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations approved by state cabinet. As already announced by government, the employees to draw revised scales of pay from current month," said the statement issued by the J&K Department of Information and Public Relations.

State Finance Minister Altaf Bukhari said the decision taken by the government reflects the stable financial condition of J&K, apart from the "pro-people governance approach" of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

The 7th Pay Commission report was prepared in January 2016. The recommendations were approved by the Union Cabinet for the central government employees in July 2016.

The states were asked to extend the 7th CPC benefits to their respective workforce. However, the process remained delayed owing to weak fiscal condition of some states, along with the apprehensions raised by employee unions.

The workers' bodies, led by the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), had demanded the Centre to further revise the fitment factor as compared to what has been recommended by the 7th CPC report.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 24, 2018 07:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).