Staff allowances doubled in Punjab

Chandigarh, September 6

Ahead of the Assembly elections, the government today agreed to increase various allowances given to the employees, over and above the recommendations given by the Sixth Pay Commission.

The government today issued directions doubling several allowances given to employees. These include telephone allowance, chowkidar allowance, conveyance allowance, secretariat pay (to those working in the Secretariat) and special pay given to personal staff of officers. The decision to double these allowances was taken by the committee of ministers formed by the government to resolve all employee-related issues, arising since the new pay scales were recommended by the panel. The employees had been demanding the increase in these allowances ever since the commission report was submitted.

The commission initially has recommended that the conveyance allowance be stopped and treated the secretariat allowance as a separate allowance, rather than being a part of the basic salary. — TNS