New pay scale to cut benefits: Union

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 12

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) Employee Union has claimed that the implementation of the new pay scales would reduce the emoluments of some categories of employees.

Union secretary HL Verma alleged that the government had deviated from the Punjab pay structure, resulting in HP employees getting lesser pay than their counterparts in Punjab.

“In the last two pay commissions, Himachal had made major deviations from the Punjab pay scale. In the Fifth Pay Commission, Himachal withdrew the benefits of the Assured Career Progression Scheme partly and postponed the date of implementation for the enhanced grade pay,” said Verma.

“Also, a two-year service rider was imposed on certain categories for getting the benefits of the enhanced grade pay. These deviations have resulted in huge recurring losses to the employees,” he said.

The state had made deviations in the 6th Pay Commission revision, too. “Time scale has been withdrawn and the increase of a minimum 15 per cent rise in basic pay on revision, as given in Punjab, has also not been done. These deviations will further increase the losses of the employees, especially of those categories where the grade pay was enhanced during 2012 and the employees joined their services during last 14 years,” he said.

He said the employees were expecting 2.59 multiple factor on the enhanced pay band plus grade pay in view of the assurances given to employees on various occasions. “But the employees have been given 2.25 multiple factor and deprived of many other benefits of pay revisions which are given in Punjab,” said Verma.

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