₹1,030-cr bonanza for 12.58 lakh Railway staff

About 12.58 lakh non-gazetted railway employees are expected to get up to ₹8,975 as a productivity-linked bonus.

The Cabinet has approved a Railway Ministry proposal to pay bonus equivalent to 78 days’ pay, with a wage ceiling of ₹3,500 a month. This will involve an outgo of ₹1,030 crore.

The bonus covers all non-gazetted railway employees, said an official statement, but excludes the railway police.

Between 2010-11 and 2013-14, railway officials had received the same bonus amount, equivalent to 78 days’ pay, with a wage ceiling of ₹3,500.

The employee unions are not particularly elated and have continued demanding removal of the wage ceiling.

The All-India Railwaymen’s Federation has written to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu thanking him for announcing 78 days’ pay for the year 2014-15, but demanding removal of the ceiling of ₹3,500.

Another union — National Federation of Indian Railwaymen — has also sought removal of the wage ceiling of ₹3,500.

(This article was published on October 7, 2015)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/cabinet-clears-bonus-for-railway-employees/article7734216.ece