''Disappointment'' over Pay Commission due to Centre's inability to rein in inflation: JD (U)

New Delhi: In an attempt to corner the Centre over the Seventh Pay Commission, the Janata Dal (United) on Thursday said that the people are unhappy with the increase in salaries and pension recommended by the commission because the government has failed to rein in inflation.

JD (U) leader Pawan Verma said that certain amount of dissatisfaction is usually there with every Pay Commission, but the current recommendations have been worst in the last 17 years.

"People are unhappy, especially those working at lower levels in the government because inflation has gone up. The price rise has kept the benefits of pay commission from reaching people," Verma told ANI.

"There is also a gap between those serving at higher posts and those at lower posts. That is why unions are opposing it," he added.Earlier, dubbing the Seventh Pay Commission as "disappointing," the Congress said that it was the worst pay hike in the history of independent India.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the pay hike reflected the mal-intent and lack of sincerity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday announced that the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission will be effective from January 1, 2016.

The recommendations, which were approved by the cabinet on Wednesday, is likely to see a higher increase in the basic pay by nearly 15 percent for over one crore government employees and pensioners.

The implementation of new pay scales recommended by the Seventh Pay Commission will impact the remuneration of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and 58 lakh pensioners.

One of the key changes suggested by the pay commission has been the `New Pay Structure,` under which the existing system of pay bands and grade pay will be ejected and a new pay matrix will be brought in to bring about more transparency.