SIXTH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION
Response of All India Federation of Superintendents of Customs
1. Comparison with public/private sectors
1.1 Should there be any comparison/parity between pay scales and perquisites in Government and the public/private sector?
Yes, there should be full and complete comparison/ parity between pay scales and perquisites in Government and the Public/ Private sector as far as their emoluments/ annual package and other service conditions are concerned.
Overall parity has to be ensured to make the Central Government service attractive in today’s scenario.
1.2 Is it possible to quantify all other benefits, excluding pay, derived by employees in Government and the public and private sectors from security of tenure, promotional avenues, retirement packages, housing and other invisibles? In view of these benefits, can there be any fair comparison between the salaries available in the government vis-a-vis the salaries in the private sector?
Yes, it is possible to quantify all other benefits, excluding pay, derived by employees in Government and the Public and Private sectors from security of tenure, promotional avenues, retirement packages, housing and other invisibles as the benefits like promotional avenues, retirement packages (in different forms), housing (in the form of having allowances) are also available in the Public/ Private sectors.
Since in Central Government service, there are no invisibles, the Public/ Private sector is on a better footing as far as quantification of this benefit is concerned.
In today’s context of decontrol, globalization, liberalization, privatization, etc., it is all the more imperative for ensuring quantification/ parity since security of tenure, with incentives for performing Staff and Staff Loans at concessional rates, unlike in Government service, is available in Public/ Private sectors, too.
More so, considering the number of people who have left Central Government service in the last half a decade, it is safe to say that this notion of security of tenure has majorly lost in relevance.
Hence, even in view of these benefits, there can be a fair comparison between the salaries available in the Government vis-a-vis the salaries in the Private sector.
1.3 In order to ensure a fair comparison based on principles of equity and social justice, would it not also be appropriate to take into account the economic conditions of large sections of the community that are less privileged than Government employees and many of whom live below the poverty line?
In order to ensure a fair comparison based on principles of equity and social justice it, would not also be appropriate to take into account the economic conditions of large sections of the community that are less privileged than Government employees and many of whom live below the poverty line as this aspect falls strictly under the domain of policy matters of the Government of India.
It would be appropriate when the entire spectrum of working class from top to bottom in this entire democracy could be governed on a socialist/ communist pattern rather than in a capitalist form where comparing the Government servants with large section of the community that are less privileged than Government employees would hence not be pragmatic.
2. International comparisons
2.1 Some countries have raised civil service pay scales almost to levels prevalent in the private sector on the hypothesis that a well-paid bureaucracy is likely to be honest and diligent. To what extent would such a hypothesis be valid and how far would such a course of action be desirable?
The hypothesis of raised civil service pay scales for all Government employees almost to levels prevalent in the Private sector leading to a well-paid bureaucracy likely to be/ being honest and diligent is a well thought out one.
With the available alternatives then being at par as far as financial benefits are concerned, any citizen would then like to take pride in Central Government service and serve the motherland and in an honest and diligent manner contribute one’s mite to the society at large.
To this extent, the above hypothesis would be valid. Such a course of action would hence be fully desirable.
3. Impact on other organizations
3.1. Salary structure in the Central and State Governments is broadly similar. The recommendations of the Pay Commission are likely to lead to similar demands from employees of State Governments, municipal bodies, panchayati raj institutions & autonomous institutions. Their paying capacity is considerably limited. To what extent should this factor be considered in devising a reasonable remuneration package for Central Government employees?
With the booming economy and enhanced collection of Central revenue and keeping in view the inflationary trends, revision of pay scales are overdue all-round.
Maladministration is also one of the key factors adversely affecting the paying capacity (which in some cases are much higher than the Central Government) of State Governments, Municipal bodies, Panchayati Raj institutions & Autonomous institutions.
For such similar salary entities to seek parity with the packages devised for the Central Government employees, eliminating mismanagement, introducing full transparency and a fair and equitable distribution of all revenues earned have to be ensured.
To this extent, this factor should be considered in devising a reasonable remuneration package for Central Government employees.