7th Pay Commission: Minimum pay for Central government employees may be hiked from Rs 18,000 to Rs 21,000

Central government employees have been demanding an increase in basic pay from existing Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000 per month.

Two months after the Narendra Modi government announced the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission's recommendations on allowances, Central government employees can expect to get some more good news in the days to come.

If sources are to be believed, the Central government is considering increasing the minimum basic pay for employees from the existing Rs 18,000 to Rs 21,000. Central government employees have been demanding the minimum basic pay be increased to Rs 25,000 per month.

There are speculations that the Central government may consider implementing the salary hike with effect from January 1, 2016.

The Union cabinet approved the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission on House Rent Allowance (HRA) and other allowances for Central government on June 28. The recommendations were cleared with 34 modifications.

Nearly 50 lakh Central government employees and a similar number of pensioners benefitted from the revision in allowances.

Last week, Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government announced revised pay scales for its employees ahead of the festive season.

Odisha government employees will draw increased pay with the salary for September. Eight lakh Odisha government employees and pensioners will benefit from the pay revision.

"My government has decided to implement the recommendations of the committee constituted for examination of the Seventh Pay Commission and its adoption for state government employees," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while announcing the decision.

Source : INDIA TODAY