Salary Hike: Amid rising inflation, government employees are eyeing salary hike. While central government employees are waiting for the approval of the 8th pay commission, the Congress-ruled Karnataka government has approved the hike in salaries of its employees by implementing the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission. In a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday, it was announced that government employees will get a 27.5% salary hike from August 1.
The Seventh State Pay Commission, constituted on November 19, 2022, was entrusted with the task of considering the demands for revision of salaries, allowances and pensions of state government employees. The commission submitted its report on March 24, 2024, an official said.
An official of the Chief Minister’s Office said, “As per the recommendations of the Pay Commission, it has been decided in the Cabinet meeting held on July 15, 2024 to revise the pay and pension by adding 31% dearness allowance and fitment of 27.5% to the basic pay as on July 1, 2022. This revision will result in a substantial increase of 58.5% in the basic pay and pension of the employees. In addition, there will be an increase of 32% in the house rent allowance.”
The minimum basic salary of employees will increase from ₹ 17,000 to ₹ 27,000, while the maximum salary will be revised from ₹ 1,50,600 to ₹ 2,41,200. The minimum pension will increase from ₹ 8,500 to ₹ 13,500 and the maximum pension will be revised from ₹ 75,300 to ₹ 1,20,600. Let us tell you that this amendment will also apply to non-teaching staff of universities, employees of aided educational institutions and local bodies.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “This pay revision will lead to additional expenditure of ₹20,208 crore per year and necessary budgetary provisions have been made in the 2024-25 budget. The pay hike is aimed at boosting morale and productivity.”
“Good news for government employees: In the Cabinet meeting held today, it has been decided to implement the much-awaited 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The recommendations will come into effect from August 1,” Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar wrote on Twitter.
The approval comes after the Karnataka State Government Employees Association threatened an indefinite strike from August if the pay hike was not implemented. In March 2023, the then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had allowed an interim 17% salary hike to the employees.
