An RSS-affiliated labour union today raised a banner of revolt against the Centre's decision to hike the pay of its employees on 7th Pay Commission's recommendations, saying it will hold country-wide protests on July 8 against the move.
Rejecting the pay hike, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) said government has "disappointed" the employees and it may lead to industrial unrest.
BMS also rejected the Model Shops and Establishments Bill, alleging that by approving it the government has gone back on its word of coming out with a draft bill and getting it approved at the tripartite consultations with labour unions.
The union charged the Centre with increasing disparity between minimum and maximum pay and demanded that there should be a uniform minimum pay of Rs 18,000 across the country, including in the private sector.
"Government has disappointed us by ignoring the objections raised by employees on recommendations of 7th Pay Commission. This will lead to industrial unrest for which the government will be responsible.
"The fitment formula should be 3.42 instead of 2.57 as approved by the government. Similarly, annual increment should be 5 per cent instead of 3 per cent given. The disparity between the minimum and maximum pay has also been increased," BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said in a statement.
He said, the Sangh will organise protests across the country in all districts on July 8 and will discuss at its national executive in August the alternative of going on a strike.
In a bonanza, one crore government employees and pensioners will get a 2.5 times hike in basic pay and pensions under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations that will cost the exchequer annually Rs 1.02 lakh crore, which the government says will have a multiplier effect on economy.
The new scales of pay provide for entry-level basic pay going up from Rs 7,000 per month to Rs 18,000, while at the highest level i.E. Secretary, it would go up from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For Class 1 officers, the starting salary will be Rs 56,100.
