Shillong, September 14: The Meghalaya State Employees’ Association (MSEA) on Monday urged Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to constitute the Sixth Pay Commission at the earliest to review the salaries, allowances and other service benefits of government employees.
MSEA president Remdor Dkhar said the Association met the Chief Minister to remind the State Government that the next Pay Commission was long overdue.
“Our purpose was to remind the Chief Minister, as the head of the State, to constitute the Sixth Pay Commission at the earliest,” Dkhar said.
He said the Chief Minister listened to the Association’s concerns and informed the delegation that the matter would be examined at the highest level of the government. However, no specific assurance was given.
The MSEA said rising prices of food, essential commodities and other daily necessities have increased the financial burden on government employees. It called for inflation and the prevailing price index to be taken into account while revising salaries, allowances and other employment-related benefits.
According to the Association, more than 60,000 State Government employees, including technical and non-technical staff and officers across various departments, would benefit from the proposed revision.
MSEA general secretary Bansharai Kharchandy said the delegation also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister outlining its demand.
She pointed out that the Central Government periodically revises the pay and benefits of its employees, while several states have already moved towards implementing recommendations based on the Seventh Pay Commission. Meghalaya employees, she said, should also receive timely revisions to their salaries and benefits.
The Association said Meghalaya’s previous Pay Commission was constituted in 2017, with its recommendations implemented retrospectively from January 1 of that year.
The MSEA stressed that the process for the next Pay Commission should begin well in advance, considering the time required to assess the financial implications, formulate recommendations and implement them.
The Association expressed hope that the State Government would consider its memorandum and initiate the necessary steps to address the concerns of government employees across Meghalaya.
