Ahead of the festive season, railway unions have raised a major demand: an increase in the Dussehra bonus, which they have also pressed for, based on a basic salary of ₹18,000.

Railway employees' demands

The Indian Railway Technical Supervisors Association (IRTSA) has written to the Finance Minister and the Railway Minister, demanding an increase in the salary limit for Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for non-gazetted railway employees. They also want the base for calculating the Dussehra bonus to be raised to a minimum of ₹18,000 plus dearness allowance (DA).

New demands from unions

The unions argue that the current 78-day bonus is based on the ₹7,000 ceiling set during the 6th Pay Commission (FY 2014-15). This results in a maximum bonus of ₹17,951 for non-gazetted railway employees. Now, since the minimum basic salary has been raised to ₹18,000 under the 7th Pay Commission, the bonus ceiling for Level-1 employees should be at least ₹18,000 + 60% DA.

The association also demands that the bonus ceiling for employees at Level 2 and above be further increased in proportion to their salaries. Railway unions argue that since the minimum wage has risen to ₹18,000 following the implementation of the 15th Pay Commission, why should bonuses be calculated based on the old ₹7,000 ceiling?

How much will railway employees benefit?

If their demand is accepted in the Union Cabinet meeting before Dussehra, it will be a huge benefit to railway employees. Even without 60% DA, if the government calculates the basic pay based on just 18,000, the 78-day bonus will exceed 46,159 rupees. If DA is also included, the amount could reach 27,824 rupees. All eyes are currently on the Cabinet's decision.

IRTSA's demand comes at a time when the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), the main body representing central government employees, has demanded an increase in the PLB pay ceiling for all non-gazetted employees. Last month, the NC-JCM requested the government to increase the pay ceiling from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000.