THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Government employees are unlikely to get back the benefits they lost during the Covid period this year as well.

Leave surrender, DA arrears and revision arrears to pensioners were not paid last year.

Meanwhile, the Finance minister's office said the last two installmets of arrears related to the pension revision would be paid after April. 760 crore is needed to pay one installment of pension. There was no announcement in the budget to resume benefits that had been suspended in the wake of the Covid.

Employees are worried that the Finance Minister's decision not to increase benefits, including honorarium and social welfare pensions for Asha workers and Anganwadi workers, is a sign to reduce expenses. Government employees have not been given leave surrender benefit for two years following Covid.

"The restoration of employee benefits will depend on the improvement of the financial situation." said Finance minister's office