Railway Employees Demand Bonus Based on Seventh Pay Commission

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Sept. A section of railway employees have written to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, requesting that their annual productivity-linked bonus (PLB) be calculated according to the Seventh Pay Commission instead of the Sixth.

In a letter addressed to Vaishnaw, Sarvjeet Singh, National General Secretary of the Indian Railways Employee Federation (IREF), highlighted that the minimum PLB is currently based on the Sixth Pay Commission’s minimum salary of ₹7,000 per month. However, the Seventh Pay Commission establishes a minimum salary of ₹18,000, which has been in effect since January 1, 2016.

Singh described the current method of calculating the bonus as “sheer injustice and exploitation of the railway employees.” He noted that during the COVID-19 lockdowns, railway employees managed to operate trains despite widespread fear, contributing to a significant increase in railways’ earnings.

According to government norms, railway employees should receive a PLB equivalent to 78 days’ salary. Yet, the current payment is only ₹17,951 based on the outdated ₹7,000 monthly salary, which does not reflect the reality for most railway workers. Singh pointed out that the bonus, when calculated based on the correct minimum salary of ₹18,000, should amount to ₹46,159.

In the letter, the IREF urged the minister to adjust the PLB calculation to align with the Seventh Pay Commission pay scales, allowing railway employees to celebrate the upcoming Dussehra festival with joy and continue their vital contributions to the railway system.