Mizoram government employees to get pay hike

AIZAWL - Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla announced that the government will implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission (SPC) for its 50,000 employees with retrospective effect from January 2006.

“In line with the Congress’ December 2008 pre-poll commitments, the state government has decided to implement the SPC with some modifications of the commission’s recommendations,” Lal Thanhawla told reporters here late Thursday.

Lal Thanhawla, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the state government was keen to implement the pay commission recommendations earlier but adequate fund was not available earlier.

“While the government was ready to implement the recommendations for its regular employees, the welfare of the casual and contingent workers of the government was not overlooked and it was recommended that their wages be increased,” Lal Thanhawla added.

State Finance Commissioner C. Lasawta said an additional expenditure of Rs.151 crore to provide the arrears since January 2006 and extra Rs.68.7 crore would be required during the remaining period of current fiscal to implement the decision.

“While the retrospective benefits from January 2006 to March 31, 2009 would be deposited into the provident fund of the concerned employee, the increased benefits from April to December would be paid before Christmas,” Lasawta added.