The National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), aggrieved over the delay on
higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, may
call for nationwide strike if the Committee on Allowance fails to submit
its final report.
According to media reports, the Committee on Allowances is likely to
submit its report on higher allowances under the 7th Pay Commission to
the Finance Ministry this week. But there is no official confirmation in
this regard. It’s been almost nine months since the formation of the
Committee on Allowances, but it is yet to submit its report.
Meanwhile, the National Council Staff Side has called a meeting on May 2
of the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) to discuss the next course of
action if the Committee on Allowance further delays report.
National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) convenor Shiv Gopal Mishra said
the central government employees might go on strike if the Committee on
Allowances delays the report further or rejected their demands.
The NJCA is leading the negotiation over 7th Pay Commission on behalf of
central government employees. Shiv Gopal Mishra also informed that the
issues of abolition of ‘option 1’ for pensioners will be discussed at
the JCM meet too. Option 1 allowed pensioners to avail their pension
hike as per the pay band in which they were enrolled at the time of
retirement. Pensioners were forced to accept option 2 as option 1 had
been rejected.
“The JCM meeting is called on May 2. Whether the Lavasa Committee
submits it report or not (by the end of the month), the meet would be
held. If the report on allowances is not tabled, then we will plan the
next step of action. I cannot rule out the option of reviving the call
for strike. After all, how long should the employees wait?” said Shiv
Gopal Mishra.
The issue of hike in minimum pay would also be discussed at the JCM
meet. “It is the centrifugal issue. All pay commission so far had kept
the issue of minimum salary at the centre. We will negotiate with the
government and attempt to persuade them,” he said.
The 7th Pay Commission had also recommended abolition of 52 allowances
and subsuming 37 others out of 196 allowances, which triggered
resentment among central government employees. Central government
employees are unhappy because of the reduction in housing rent allowance
(HRA) and want the government to increase basic pay from from Rs 18,000
to Rs 26,000.
Source: India.com
