Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has directed the enhancement of the first instalment of pay arrears to state government employees from the earlier stipulated level of 33 to 40 per cent. The first instalment will be paid with the salary of April, 2011.

The employees and pensioners are to get arrears due to a hike in pay from 1-1-2006 to 31-7-2009 as per the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission amounting to over Rs 7,200 crore.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting with representatives of the Mulazam Front, Punjab.

According to the decision, the arrears will be paid in three instalments of 40, 30 and 30 per cent, payable in May 2011, May 2012 and May 2013, respectively.