The central cabinet is considering increasing the minimum basic salary to Rs 26,000.
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Media reports said lakhs of central government employees have long pressed for demand to hike the fitment factor.
Currently, the minimum pay for Central government employees is Rs 18,000. However, the hike in fitment factor could increase to Rs 26,000.
However, for such an impressive hike to happen, the Central government will have to increase the fitment factor from 2.57 times to 3.68 times.
If the Central government increases the fitment factor to 3.68, the employees’ basic salary will become Rs 26,000. For instance, if the government employee’s minimum salary is Rs 18,000, excluding allowances, the minimum salary will be Rs 46,260 (18,000 X 2.57 = 46,260), according to the 2.57 fitment factor.
However, if the fitment factor is 3.68, then the salary will increase to Rs 95,680 (26000X3.68 = 95,680).
The Union Cabinet in June 2017 approved the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission with 34 modifications. The new pay scales provide for the minimum basic pay to go up from Rs 7,000 per month to Rs 18,000. On the other hand, at the highest level, i.e. Secretary, went up from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For Class 1 officers, the starting salary was Rs 56,100.
So, nothing can be said until the government makes an official announcement about the fitment factor. Therefore, central government employees have no option but to wait for the announcement in the coming days.
