Two years’ bonus for central government employees, says Jaitley

“The bonus entitlement for 2014-15 and 2015-16 will be released on the revised norms for central government employees. This was pending for two years. After this, the bonus will be covered under the 7th Pay Commission,” finance minister Arun Jaitley told reporters in Delhi.

At the press conference, Jaitley also said the government will increase the minimum wage of non-agricultural workers to Rs 350 a day from the present Rs 246 a day.

The announcement comes at a time labour unions have called a hunger strike on Friday over their demands.

The Left and Congress-affiliated unions have planned the general strike to oppose the NDA government’s economic and labour policies, exempting hospitals, medical stores, milk distribution and other emergency services from the day-long strike.

Though labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya had earlier said the NDA government fulfilled many promises and was on course to settle other issues, labour unions remained unimpressed.