Centre is expected to revise upwards the fitment factor after Holi. Will the minimum salary rise from Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000?

Central government employees are likely to get a hike in their salary even as the Centre is expected to revise upwards the fitment factor after Holi, March 8, according to media reports. The minimum salary is expected to see a rise from Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000 for central government employees.

The common fitment factor currently stands at 2.57 per cent. It means that if somebody, let’s say, gets a basic pay of Rs 15,500 in 4200 Grade Pay, his total pay will be Rs 15,500×2.57 or Rs 39,835. The 6th CPC had recommended the fitment ratio at 1.86.

According to the reports, employees are now demanding the government to raise the fitment factor to 3.68. The hike will raise the minimum wage from Rs 18,000 currently to Rs 26,000.

Earlier, media reports have also suggested that central government employees under the 7th Pay Commission are also likely to get a hike in their dearness allowance (DA) in March 2023, effective January 1, 2023. The government might also raise dearness relief (DR) for pensioners. Apart from this, the employees are also likely to get the 18-month DA arrears.