Uncertainty persists over payment of salary adjustments for end of September

The publication of the new "Regulations" expected for 31 sectors of the economy is causing discontent among private sector employees. The payment of salary adjustments, expected to be between Rs 600 and Rs 3,400 by the end of September, remains uncertain. A senior official of the Ministry of Labor says he is "overwhelmed" and is struggling to coordinate with the State Law Office to have the new regulations promulgated.

However, a statement from the National Remuneration Board, concerning only certain sectors, reinforces the confusion surrounding the non-payment of these adjustments.

Are the government and the private sector playing with the nerves of the working class? While waiting for the publication of the new “Regulations” for 31 economic sectors, a legal loophole could allow some companies to delay the payment of salary revisions announced in early August. The retroactive payment of amounts, ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 3,400 since July, would harm some companies.

Another sensitive issue concerns the payment of employees not covered by the National Remuneration Board regulations. This week, in an emergency, the ministry mandated the NRB to establish a new salary scale for these employees, who number more than 75,000. The NRB issued a statement this afternoon, opening public consultations on the matter.

The drafting of this document is now the Board's priority, but we know that such an exercise takes time. Patience will therefore be required for these thousands of employees before a possible salary review becomes a reality.