INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The bonus is likely to work out to be around Rs 18,000 per employee.Ahead of the festive season, railway employees are likely to get 78-day
wages as bonus this year, the same as in the last six years
The Railway Board has proposed 78-day wages as productivity-linked bonus (PLB) for its employees for 2017-18 after detailed discussions with
rail unions, and the proposal is likely to be approved by the Cabinet, a senior Railway Ministry official told IANS.The bonus for railwaymen
assumes significance as five states are entering the electioneering phase while the general elections also round the corner
The government is slated to announce the bonus in the next few days after Cabinet approval.PLB is paid to about 12.26 lakh railway employees
each year before the Dussehra festival
This does not include the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) personnel.National Federation of Indian
Railwaymen General Secretary M
Raghavaiah said: "Since the Railways has earned Rs 16,000 crore more than the last year's earnings and transported a record 1,161 million
tonnes of freight this time, we had demanded an 80-day bonus
But finally, we agreed on 78 days."The bonus is likely to work out to be around Rs 18,000 per employee.This will be seventh year in a row
that 78-days' wages are given as PLB to railway employees.All-India Railwaymen's Federation General Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said: "The
78-day bonus will be announced next week as employees expect it during festive season
It motivates the employees to improve the financial position of the public transporter."The financial implication of 78-day bonus to
eligible non-gazetted railway employees for 2017-18 is estimated at over Rs 2,000 crore
The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of bonus is Rs 7,000 per month
Thus, the maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs 17,951 for 78 days.The Railways expect that the PLB would serve as an
incentive and result in motivating a large number of employees, particularly those involved in operations, to improve their productivity and
ensure safety, speed and service for customers.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and
is published from a syndicated feed.)
