Kerala pay report to be submitted on July 10, Retirement age to be increased to 58

Increasing the retirement age for Kerala government employees by two years to 58 may be one of the recommendations of the 10th Kerala Pay Revision Commission. The commission, led by Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair, will submit its report on July 10.

The commission is expected to recommend the increase of retirement age to balance the extra burden on the treasury due to a pay rise across the board. The report recommends a minimum salary of Rs 16,000 and a maximum salary of Rs 1 lakh for employees.

The youth wings of all political parties are against increasing the retirement age in the government service. Even the United Democratic Front government’s policies do not favour later retirement. The retirement age was raised to 56 from 55 during the previous Left Democratic Front rule.

Other recommendations include lowering the minimum eligibility for full pension to 25 years in service from the present 30. Full pension is equivalent to half of the basic pay. The report would also have recommendations intended to raise the efficiency of the employees along with their pay scale.

The commission is also expected to recommend appointment at the middle level, redeployment and health insurance. Since many government employees are without any particular duties in various departments, the commission wants them to be redeployed to departments with a shortage of staff.

The Kerala government spends Rs 39,000 crore on its employees’ pay and pension per year. Salaries cost Rs 26,000 crore while pensions cost Rs 13,000 crore.

Source : Manoramaonline