7th Pay Commission Report and the Need for Timeliness

7th Pay Commission Report and the Need for Timeliness

Background of the 7th Pay Commission

The 7th pay commission report - when is it going to be submitted?

The announcement about the 7th pay commission report came out on September the 25th of 2013. This pay commission unlike the 6th pay commission was set up well in advance. This became possible due to significant efforts of various organisations, union lists and the finance commission report. Announcements say that the 7th pay commission will be implemented from 1.1.2016 and it will take approximately 18 months time for the report to be submitted.

Recently, the 7th pay commission Chairman and the members gave out a public statement on 4.2.2014 and after that on 22.2.2014 the important 7th cpc terms and references were released. Now, the thought that floats on everyone’s mind is whether the 7th pay commission report will be submitted within the 18 months time period and will the employees be able to get the benefits along with their salary from 1.1.2016.

Recently, in the Lok Shaba during the question and answer session, it was pointed out that no specific time limit can be specified as of now for the implementation of the 7th pay commission. However, the finance ministry is now recruiting people for the 7th pay commission pay cell on deputation basis. This is a good attempt which boosts our confidence in the fact that the 7th pay commission will be put into effect on time.

Reports of the Earlier Pay Commissions

If the employees get the benefits of the 7th pay commission along with our salary on 1.1.2016, then, this will be the first time we are given the pay commission benefits without arrears. I am providing a link containing reports about when the previous pay commissions were set and when they were implemented.

Pay Commission	Date of Appointment	Date of submission of report	Financial impact (Rs. In crores)	Time
First Pay Commission	May, 1946	May, 1947	N.A	1 YEAR
Second Pay Commission	August, 1957	August, 1959	39.62	2 YEARS
Third Pay Commission	April, 1970	March, 1973	144.60	3 YEARS (aprx)
Fourth Pay Commission	June, 1983	3 reports submitted in June, 1986; Dec. 1986 and May, 1987	1282	4 YEARS(aprx)
Fifth Pay Commission	April, 1994	January, 1997	17,000	3YEARS (aprx)
Sixth pay commission	July 2006	March 2008		18 months

Arrears of the 6th Pay Commission :- When you see the timetable above, you can understand that none of the previous pay commissions were implemented on time and without the payment of arrears. When the 6th pay commission was implemented, the government paid a huge amount as arrears in two instalments. This impacted the economy considerably and caused changes in inflation rate and GDP. This shocking fact was revealed by the 13th finance committee report.

The Benefits of the Timely Implementation of the 7th Pay Commission :- What benefits will the employees get if the 7th pay commission is implemented on 1.1.2016? Let us have a look.

Firstly, all the allowances and benefits can be got on 1.1.2016. When the benefits are paid as arrears the employees will not get some of the allowances due to exclusion.

Secondly, the government will not have to pay a huge amount as arrears and thereby can avoid economic burden.

Thirdly, if a National Anomaly Committee is set up and the shortcomings of the 7th pay commission are corrected immediately, employees can receive the benefits easily. We have to note that several points mentioned the anomaly committee report of the 6th pay commission still remain problematic and uncorrected.

Fourthly, let us have a look at the elements of ACP and MACP. Like the ACP and MACP, the financial up gradation is going to be introduced in the 7th Pay Commission; the issues that may arise due to this have to be resolved in a timely manner so that everyone may be benefitted by it.   In the 5th pay commission, the time limit for promotion through ACP remained at 12 years, and in the 6th pay commission the time limit for promotions through MACP remained at 10 years. In the 5th pay commission, a new method of promotion through hierarchy was introduced. In the 6th pay commission promotions happened through grade pay structure.

The main aim of introducing ACP and MACP is to make sure that an employee gets minimal promotion at least thrice in his life time of service. If this is the case, the minimal service period of an employee should be at least 30 years. But presently, employees are appointed even at the age of 37 and so their service period is just 23 years. Such problems have to be carefully considered well in advance and solved before the 7th pay commission is implemented.

Let us believe that the 7th pay commission will be the first arrears-free pay commission and implemented on time as per the guidelines of the 13th finance commission.

Source: www.7thpaycommissionnews.com