#GoodNews: Almost 12 Lakh Railway Employees to Get Rs 18,000 Bonus

The Cabinet has approved payment of productivity-linked bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees, excluding RPF and RPSF personnel. 

(Photo: PTI)

The Cabinet on Wednesday, 10 October, approved payment of productivity-linked bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days' wages to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees, excluding RPF and RPSF personnel, for the 2017-18 financial year.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced the decision at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Around 11.91 lakh non-gazetted railway employees are likely to benefit from this decision, PTI reported.

The financial implication of payment of 78 days’ productivity-linked bonus to railway employees has been estimated at Rs 2,044.31 crore, a statement said.

To this end, each employee under this head, would receive about Rs. 17,951 for 78 days.

The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to eligible non-gazetted railway staff is Rs 7,000 per month and the maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee for 78 days is Rs 17,951, the statement said,

Productivity-linked bonus is paid each year before the Dussehra and Puja holidays. This is a practice that has been taking place for the past seven years. However, this does now extend to employees working in the Railway Protection Force and Railway Protection Special Force, The Indian Express reported.

For the year 2017-18, PLB equivalent to 78 days' wages will be paid, which is expected to motivate the employees for working towards improving the performance of the Railways, the statement said.

In the year 2017, about 12.30 lakh non-gazetted railway employees were paid PLB, which rounded up a financial implication of Rs 2,245.45 crore on the railways, The Indian Express reported.

(With inputs from PTI and The Indian Express)