West Bengal To Implement 7th State Pay Commission Within Current Financial Year

The West Bengal government plans to implement the 7th State Pay Commission within the current financial year, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced.

The government has prepared the terms of reference (ToR) for the commission and will formally constitute it after the terms are finalised, Adhikari has stated while addressing an event on July 21. The move is expected to address long-standing demands from state government employees for revised pay structures, higher dearness allowance (DA) and payment of pending arrears.

According to PTI, Adhikari has stated that the state government would work towards reducing the difference in DA between West Bengal government employees and central government employees in a phased manner.

He has explained that the government had considered the financial implications before deciding on the pace of DA increases. Adhikari has also made it clear that the state would not raise the DA sharply in one go and would instead gradually bridge the gap.

A Gap To Be Reduced Gradually

The West Bengal government increased DA by 20 per cent last month, taking the total DA for state government employees to 38 per cent of basic pay.

The latest announcement comes amid a long-standing dispute over the difference between DA paid to state government employees and their counterparts in the central government. Employee organisations in the state have repeatedly sought higher DA and payment of accumulated arrears.

Adhikari has also assured employees that the pending dues would be cleared over time, according to PTI. However, the government has not provided a specific timeline for clearing all outstanding arrears.

7th State Pay Commission Constituted

The state government had approved the formation of the 7th State Pay Commission in May after the new government took office.

On July 22, the state formally constituted the four-member commission under former Union Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty. The panel has been given six months to submit its recommendations.

The commission is expected to examine and recommend changes to the salary structure of state government employees. Its scope will also include DA, promotion policies, pensions and retirement benefits.

The implementation of the recommendations will determine the extent of changes in salaries and other benefits for eligible state government employees.

West Bengal government employees are currently governed by the recommendations of the 5th and 6th State Pay Commissions, while central government employees receive salaries based on the 7th Central Pay Commission.