State staff to get less than central employees
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 21
Various government employee associations today condemned the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations pointing out that the Punjab government employee will now be paid lower than his Central government counterpart.

A press note issued by the Punjab Civil Secretariat Staff Association stated that in the 5,000-8,100 pay scale, the grade pay according to the unrevised scale was Rs 4,200, while the pay panel had recommended a grade pay of Rs 3,200.

“Similarly, in the 5,800-9,200 scale, the grade pay recommended by the state panel was Rs 3,800, while it was Rs 4,200 for Central government employees in the same pay scale,” said Paramdeep Singh Pabhat, press secretary of the association.

The employees added that the Centre was giving its employees a conveyance allowance which was missing in Punjab. “Similarly, the Central commission has recommended payment of Rs 1,000 as education allowance for children. This is Rs 500 for Punjab,” said Pabhat.

Members of the Punjab Health and Medical Directorate Employees Union opposed the increase in retirement age from 58 to 60 years. “This was not a part of any union’s demand and we did not want it. This will delay promotions and close openings for newcomers,” said Surjit Singh of the association.

Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, “I have been told that the employees are not happy with the recommendations as in several cases the Punjab employee will be earning less than his Central government counterpart. In such cases recommendations should have been reviewed before giving blanket statements that the report will be implemented”.

He added that the government does not even have the money to implement the report. “When are they going to implement the pay package is the big question. For paying the last set of salaries, the government borrowed Rs 500 crore. Where will they get the 2,700 crore?” he asked.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, today said the Cabinet had already resolved to accept in principle the recommendations. He said it was the SAD-BJP government that implemented the recommendations of Fourth Punjab Pay Commission and now they had the privilege to implement the recommendations of Fifth Pay Commission.