Mamata govt extends Pay Commission tenure once more

In blow to employees, Mamata govt extends Pay Commission tenure once more

This is the fifth extension given to the one-man Commission

Even after having already waited for three years, Bengal government employees are unlikely to see a pay revision before the Lok Sabha polls due next year.

Mamata Banerjee government today extended the tenure of its Sixth Pay Commission for the fifth time in a row. The latest extension, notified today, is for six months and is valid till 27 May 2019.

Given that the Lok Sabha polls shall be held within the month of May, there is are thin chances that the Commission will furnish its recommendations. In the event it does, the state government may not be able to implement the same due to Model Code of Conduct.

The state government had instituted the one-man Sixth Pay Commission headed by Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) professor Abhirup Sarkar on 28 November 2015. Its initial term was for six months but the state government kept on extending its tenure. The last extension was to end on 27 November and now, it has been given an extension for six more months.

THIS IS EVEN AS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY GETTING PAID ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION. ALSO, THE GAP IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE (DA) BETWEEN CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NOW STANDS AT 41 PER CENT.

The employees’ unions belonging to both the Left parties, Congress, and BJP have reacted strongly against today extension.

The Co-ordination Committee of State Government Employees’ Unions of the Left has called for a tiffin-hour protest in all the state government offices tomorrow.

“We have been withstanding enough of exploitation from this government. After the token protest tomorrow, we will step up the protest and paralyse the state administration in the near future,” said its general secretary Bijoyshankar Singh.

CONGRESS’ CONFEDERATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES’ UNIONS SUBIR SAHA HAS CALLED FOR A UNITED FIGHT BY ALL THE UNIONS BELONGING TO THE LEFT, CONGRESS, BJP, AND EVEN TRINAMOOL. THE BJP AFFILIATED UNION HAS WELCOMED THE PROPOSAL.

Trinamool’s State Government Employees Federation, which finds itself in a tight spot, has not commented on the united agitation proposal but has expressed its frustration.

“The repeated extension is totally uncalled for. We are doubtful whether those manning the Commission has the required expertise,” its convener Manoj Chakraborty has said.

Source : newsmen.in