Karnataka to implement new pay scale in November, scrap NPS

 Karnataka employees can get a big gift in the month of November. Indications for this have started coming from the state government. Actually, the state government had constituted the panel to implement the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission in Karnataka. It is expected that the panel can submit its recommendations to the state government in the next month i.e. November. Meanwhile, State Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the state government will take an appropriate decision if necessary. The panel was asked to submit recommendations in the month of November.

State CM Siddaramaiah has already assured to take a decision to implement the commission’s report. He had said that government employees need not worry. It will be implemented.

NPS will end

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the government will scrap the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). Congress had promised to implement the old pension in the manifesto for the assembly elections held in the month of May. A committee has been formed on this. The state government will take a decision based on the report. He said that the government will soon launch Karnataka Arogya Sanjeevini scheme to provide free treatment to the state government employees and their families. The state government will fill 2.5 lakh vacant posts in the next 5 years.

Banks offer 15% wage hike, 5-day work week

State-run and old private generation banks are discussing an average 15% wage hike for employees, while also rolling out a five-day work week soon.

On Thursday, Indian Banks' Association has proposed a 15% increase, but the unions are said to be demanding a higher increase, along with other changes. Separately, some of the banks, such as PNB, have started making higher provisions for the wage increase. Instead of budgeting for a 10% increase, in the September quarter, the Delhi-headquartered lender has set aside funds for a 15% rise.

Employees and unions are arguing that banks have seen a good increase in profits in recent years and given the efforts that employees have put in getting the lenders back on track, apart from working during Covid and pushing government's schemes, they are entitled to better compensation. The negotiations are being closely monitored by the finance ministry.

With the general elections due next year, the expectation is that the wage settlement will be finalised before that as bank employees are a sizeable constituency. In 2020, the last wage settlement concluded after three years of negotiation.

Haryana announced 4% D.A. for state employees wef 01.07.2023

 Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the state employees will get the hiked DA from July 1, 2023, and nearly 3.5 lakh employees in Haryana will benefit from the move.

Going in line with the Central government, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday announced a 4 per cent hike in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees. The announcement from the Haryana government comes after the Centre increased the DA for government employees from 42 per cent to 46 per cent.

The chief minister said the state government employees will get the hiked DA from July 1, 2023, and nearly 3.5 lakh employees in Haryana will benefit from the move of the state government.

Dearness Relief for Central Pensioners wef 01.07.2023 : Order issued

 Click here to download DR Order

Tamilnadu Govt Employees Get Salary Boost With 4% DA Hike

In a festive bonanza that will bring cheers for the state government employees, the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday has increased the dearness allowance (DA) for its employees by 4 percent, raising it from the previous 42 percent to the new rate of 46 percent. This adjustment in the DA hike is effective from July 1, 2023.

Despite the increase in expenditure of Rs 2,546 crore on the state exchequer, the official release from the state government affirms their commitment to allocating supplementary funds in the best interests of state officers, teachers, and pensioners. It is worth noting that the present government remains dedicated to fulfilling various requests of officers and teachers, as well as keeping the promises made to them, despite facing the substantial financial constraints and debt burdens left behind by the previous administration.

Air Ticket for LTC : Latest DOPT instruction

 It was found difficult for the Govt. servants to retain screenshots showing minimum fare in the selected slot of journey for claiming reimbursement in LTC while performing journey by air.

In order to overcome the problem, Govt. directed the authourized travel agents to display the details of the flight having the cheapest fare and the flight(s) having the fare 10% more than the cheapest fare only, y, in the desired time slot, at the time of booking the air tickets by the Government employees for the purpose of LTC journey. Therefore, the booking of air ticket for the purpose of LTC on the website of these three authorized travel agents shall itself be a proof that the ticket booked by the individual government employee was of the cheapest fare as provided under the guidelines.

Click here for the order

Central Govt. employees D.A. with effect from July 2023, order issued

 Click here to download 4% D.A. order

Cabinet approves Productivity Linked Bonus for railway employees of 78 days' wage

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The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for the financial year 2022-23 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees namely Track maintainer, Loco Pilots, Train Managers (Guards), Station Masters, Supervisors, Technicians, Technician Helpers, Pointsman, Ministerial Staff and other Group ‘C’ staff (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel).

In recognition of this excellent performance by the Railway staff, Union Government has approved payment of PLB of Rs 1968.87 crore to 11,07,346 railway employees. The performance of Railways in the year 2022-2023 was very good. Railways loaded a record cargo of 1509 Million Tonnes and carried nearly 6.5 Billion Passengers.

Many factors contributed to this record performance. These include improvement in infrastructure due to infusion of record Capex by the Government in Railways, efficiency in operations and better technology etc.

Payment of PLB will act as an incentive to motivate the Railway employees for working towards further improvement in performance.

Source : PIB Press Release

Cabinet approves release of an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief due from 01.07.2023

 The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners w.e.f. 01.07.2023 representing an increase of 4% over the existing rate of 42% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate against price rise. This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs.12,857 crore per annum. This will benefit about 48.67 lakh Central Government employees and 67.95 lakh pensioners.

Source : PIB Press Release

Union Cabinet likely to clear 4% hike in DA for central govt employees: Sources

 The Union Cabinet is likely to approve a 4 per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for central government employees, sources told India Today. The Union Cabinet's decision may be announced after its meeting on Wednesday. The central government is likely to increase the dearness allowance from the current 42 per cent to 46 per cent. The move is likely to come just weeks before Diwali. 

In March this year, the Union Cabinet had increased the dearness allowance and dearness relief by 4 per cent to 42 per cent to benefit 47.58 lakh central government employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners. I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said that the combined impact on the exchequer would be Rs 12,815.60 crore per annum. The hike was effective from January 01, 2023.

The Cabinet had also hiked additional DA by 4 per cent in September last year, just weeks before Diwali. 

Source : Business Today

Ad hoc bonus for Central employees declared

 Non productive linked (Ad hoc) bonus for 30 days declared for the year 2022-23.

Taking into consideration of monthly ceiling of Rs 7000/-, Central Govt employees will get a bonus of Rs 6908/-

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Kerala CM KCR announces new Pay Revision Commission, seeks report in six months

 Ahead of the Telangana Assembly elections, CM KCR decided to constitute a Pay Revision Commission (PRC) to make recommendations for new pay scales to state government employees.

Interim Relief announced.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Monday, October 2 decided to constitute a new Pay Revision Commission (PRC) to make recommendations for new pay scales to state government employees, in a step towards fulfilling a long-pending demand. The government also announced its decision to pay 5% Interim Relief (IR) to state government employees.

Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari issued orders appointing retired IAS officer N Sivashankar as PRC Chairman and another retired IAS officer B Ramaiah as a member. The orders suggested that the PRC should submit the report to the government within 6 months. The state Finance department has been asked to provide required funds and staff for the functioning of the PRC.

The decisions come amid the buzz that the Election Commission of India (ECI) may announce the schedule of the Assembly elections in the next few days. The elections are likely to be held in November-December. A team of ECI is beginning a three-day visit to Telangana on Tuesday to review poll preparedness.

Central D A likely to be announced today

 It was expected and informed by sources that D.A. with effect from 01.07.2023 may be approved by today's cabinet meeting but it was not materialized. The wait for D.A. is likely to be a little longer. We will update soon.