7th Pay Commission: Congress unhappy

New Delhi: Congress on Saturday expressed resentment over the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission and demanded at least 40% hike in the pay of various categories of government employees. Senior party spokesman Ajay Maken told reporters that the Central government employees are “frustrated and disappointed” with the major recommendations of the Commission. “This is unjust and humiliating for the beneficiaries.” “It is unfortunate that the employees, who were given 40 per cent hike in their respective pay by the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions, have now been recommended only 14.29 per cent,” he said pointing out several lacunae in the Seventh Pay Commission report. The Congress leader also faulted the commission for ignoring the consistent demand to reduce gap between the lowest paid and the highest paid employees from 1:12, recommended by 6th CPC to 1:8. Instead of the gap being reduced it has been further increased by the 7th Pay Commission to 1:14, he claimed. “When we go through the recommendations, it appears that is anti-low paid employees and fails to improve their financial condition. It is tilted towards higher-level officers,” Maken said. He especially took objection to discontinuance of 52 allowances at present available and abolition of all non-interest bearing advances viz festival etc as also Motor Car, Motor Cycle/Scooter/Moped advances. While the Sixth Pay Commission had recommended annual increment between 3 to 4% of Pay plus Grade Pay, the Seventh Pay Commission has restricted it to 3% only, Maken added