Pay panel awards worst in 70 years: Congress

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday dismissed the pay panel’s recommendations as the “worst in 70 years.” The cabinet had cleared the recommendations on Wednesday

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday dismissed the pay panel’s recommendations as the “worst in 70 years.” The cabinet had cleared the recommendations on Wednesday paving the way for a pay hike for central government staff and pensioners.

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“The Pay Commission miserably failed to improve financial condition of its employees, including Armed forces (personnel), who were expecting betterment in their pay structure and improvement in living standards but their dreams (have been) shattered,” Congress leader Ajay Maken said at the party’s official briefing on the issue.

“In the history of CPC during last about 70 years this is the worst recommendations,” Maken said. The party said that the recommendations made by the 5th and 6th Pay Commissions for increase of 20% in pay of employees were doubled by the previous governments that it headed to 40%.

“Since independence seven Pay Commissions have been constituted all by Congress or Congress-led Governments. NDA Government during the year 2003 was in power but refused to constitute 6th Pay Commission,” Maken said adding that the party would support the July 11 strike by employees’ unions against the recommendations.