7th Pay Commission: The issue of central government employees pay hike has been a long-pending issue. These employees are demanding minimum pay and fitment factor hike beyond the 7th CPC recommendations for long. However, the government has not yet considered their demands yet. These employees say that since inflation has gone up substentially, salary hike the Centre has given under the 7th Pay Commission is not enough to cover the loss. They are demanding that minimum pay be hiked to Rs. 26000 per month from current Rs. 18000.
They want the fitment factor be hiked from 2.57 to 3.68 times. As the government hiked the MSP for farm produce, these employees are hoping that this does not prove too inflationary. This will increase spending by farmers, thereby boosting inflation. Instead, employees are hoping they see the begining of the government sops for them ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Otherwise they may have to wait a year! Many believe that the government may hike minimum pay before the elections.