7th pay commission: Hike in fitment factor and other latest developments, 5 points

The Minister of State for Finance P. Radhakrishnan in Lok Sabha had already said that the Prime Minister's Narendra Modi government is not planning to give any hike in minimum basic salary beyond the recommendations of the seventh pay commission. 

However, there are contradicting reports citing sources stated that the hike inmimum pay might come before the 2019 elections. Meanwhile, amidst the chaos regarding the increase pay and other demands, the salary of the Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories has been increased and made on a par with the emoluments of secretaries of the central government. 

Below we have listed out 5 latest developments related to the seventh pay commission that has happened so far. 

1. Denying the reports hinting towards the salary hike, Minister of State for Finance P. Radhakrishnan had said that at present the government has no plans to increase the minimum salary beyond the seventh pay commission recommendations. 

2. Currently, the Central government employees are getting basic pay according to the fitment formula of 2.57 of the basic pay and if this big step is taken, it will come as a massive news for the Central government employees. Fitment factor is a figure used by 7th CPC with which the basic pay in 6th CPC regime (i.e Pay in Pay band + Grade pay) is multiplied in order to fix basic pay in revised pay structure (i.e 7th CPC). Fitment factor formulated by 7th CPC is 2.57.

3.After Minister of State for Finance P. Radhakrishnan’s in Lok Sabha clarified that the PM Narendra Modi government is not considering any minimum pay hike beyond the recommendations of the seventh pay commission, the employees' associations reportedly are planning to go on a strike, Sen Times reported. 

The Sen Times reported that the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) has threatened to go on strike. 

NJAC’s Shiv Gopal Mishra, who led the negotiation over 7th Pay Commission on behalf of central government employees, expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s decision and said the struggle for higher minimum pay will continue, the publication said. 

4.Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet has given its nod for the revision of salary and allowances of Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories and it will be on a par with that of the secretary to the government of India. 

5.Keeping in mind the recommendations of the seventh pay commission, a good news has been announced for the teachers of staff of Executive Council of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU). According to media reports, the retirement age of SMVDU teachers has been raised to 65 year. An approval of grant of pay scales for them has also been signed. SMVDU is a university based in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.