Bad news for government employees: Pay Reform Commission likely to be delayed further

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There are indications that the announcement of the new pay commission for Kerala state government employees will be delayed. Although the pay revision was made in 2021, it was retrospective from 2019. According to it, the twelfth pay revision should be implemented for state employees and pensioners from July 1, 2024. However, even after ten months, the commission has not been appointed.

The government believes that the salary revision, which is implemented every five years, creates a huge financial liability. When the last salary revision was implemented, there was a huge liability of Rs 25,000 crore. When it was implemented with a retroactive effect, there was a liability to pay arrears of about Rs 4,000 crore. Of this, Rs 2,000 crore is still to be paid. Due to the liability created by the salary revision, the employees could not be paid DA at the appropriate times. Currently, a total of 18% DA is arrears in six instalments. Although three instalments of DA have already been paid, it could not be given retroactive effect. The government is concerned that if the next salary revision is implemented, the state will plunge into a more severe financial crisis. Due to the financial discrimination of the central government, many states ruled by opposition parties have reached a point where they cannot even distribute salaries properly. It is learned that the government's stance is that it will be enough to implement the next salary revision after a thorough study.

The central government implements salary revision once in ten years. A new salary revision commission has been appointed at the centre. The new salary revision at the centre will come into effect in 2026. The salary of central employees will more than double. They also have many allowances. The dearness allowance will be received twice a year at the centre. The dearness allowance at the centre is now 55 percent.

Commission formed four months late

The then Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had announced the commission on November 6, four months after the 11th pay revision, which was to be implemented from July 1, 2019. Retired IAS officer K Mohandas was the chairman. Thirteen months later, the report was submitted to the government on January 29, 2021. Two weeks later, on February 10, the government approved it and issued an order.