Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central government on Wednesday approved the payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) for the financial year 2017-18.
The productivity-linked bonus to railway employees has been estimated at Rs 2,044.31 crore. 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, Around 11.91 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision.
“Payment of PLB to eligible railway employees is made each year before the Dusshera/ Puja holidays,” the statement said.
The decision of the Cabinet shall be implemented before the holidays for this year also.
For the year 2017-18 PLB equivalent to 78 days’ wages will be paid which is anticipated to motivate the employees for working towards improving the performance of the Railways.
In 1979-80, Railways were the first departmental undertaking of the Government of India wherein the concept of PLB was introduced.
The key consideration at that time was the important role of the Railways as an infrastructural support in the performance of the economy as a whole. In the overall framework of Railway working, it was considered desirable to introduce the concept of PLB as against the concept of Bonus on the lines of ‘The Payment of Bonus Act – 1965’.
