7th Pay Commission: Maharashtra government employees protests losing steam, as offices record better attendance

The three-day strike launched by state government employees from Tuesday seemed to have lost some steam on the second day, with offices recording higher attendance on Wednesday.

Around 77.30 per cent of the around 7,678 officers and employees in the state administrative headquarters of the Mantralaya and the New Administrative Building, who record their attendance through bio-metrics, had reported for duty on Wednesday. This is higher than the 70.64 per cent attendance recorded on Tuesday.

The average attendance for class A and B category employees in the Mantralaya was 78.97 per cent and 82.45 per cent, respectively, and at 56.59 per cent for C and D category staff. However, this stood at 83.32 per cent for A and B class officials and 70 per cent and 37.28 per cent for C and D class employees on Tuesday. A meeting between striking employees and state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar failed to yield a breakthrough on Tuesday.

The unions, largely comprising class C and D employees, are demanding implementation of the 7th Pay Commission report, a five-day week system, and a rise in retirement age to 60 years from 58.

The state government has an employee strength of 17 lakh, including teaching and non-teaching staff in aided institutions and universities. The around 1.5 lakh gazetted officers have stayed out of this strike.

PRESENT, SIR

Average attendance for class A & B category employees in Mantralaya was 79% and 83%, respectively, and at 57% for C and D category staff.