New Delhi, Mar 13: Employees of the Indian Railways marched to the Parliament on Tuesday demanding revision in the 7th Pay Commission to facilitate a further increase in their minimum wages, along with the withdrawal of National Pension Scheme or NPS, which has deprived a massive section of the workforce of guaranteed post-retirement benefits.

The march was organised by the All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF), the largest union of Railway employees. AIRF general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said the march was aimed at pressuring the government to accept their demands.

"We don't want people to suffer. Our agitation was short but effective. We want the government to withdraw the NPS, as it does not guarantee fixed benefits to those employed in or after 2004. However, 10 percent of their salary is being deducted for post-retirement savings," he said.

On minimum wages, the AIRF has demanded the government to revise the fitment factor as recommended by the 7th Pay Commission.

Under CPC report, the minimum salary was raised from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000, using 2.57 as the multiplying unit.

The Railway federation has, however, demanded the government to use 3.16 as the fitment factor, which would increase the minimum salary to Rs 26,000.

"Considering the prevailing rate of inflation, our demand is totally justified," Mishra said.

"There is anger and anguish not just among railwaymen, but also among bureaucrats, over this. We have been assured again and again that our demands will be met, but nothing has happened so far. If they do not relent, then we will have to stick together and the next step could well be disruptive," he added.

Mishra, however, confirmed that functioning of trains were not affected due to the march organised today. "There was absenteeism as large number of employees participated in the protest. But the services were not affected," he claimed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 13, 2018 03:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).