Even though women constitute only 7.53 per cent (2.92 lakhs) of the total regular Central Government employees, the Pay Commission, for the first time, has worked out a separate set of recommendations for them meeting many of their long-standing demands.

The Commission said that it was its considered opinion that adequate facilities be provided to ensure that more women could take up public employment and could balance the dual responsibilities of looking after children and work.

Urging the government to introduce staggered working hours the Commission said it would give flexibility to women employees to work either early or late depending on their requirements at the home front.

Under this scheme, 11 am to 4 pm would be core hours during which all women employees would need to be present in the office.

They would, have the option of either coming upto one and a half hours earlier or leaving upto two hours late depending upon the actual time they have clocked in.

Keeping in view the guidelines of Ministry of Health & FW which recommends nursing of children till the age of six months, the Commission recommended that maternity leave should be increased from 135 days at present to 180 days.

Recommending various welfare measures for the employees with various types of disabilities the Commission said number of Casual Leave available for such employees should be 12 days as against 8 for others.

Recommending flexible hours for employees with disability, the Commission said they would have to put in the stipulated hours of duty every week which could be calculated with reference to their time of arrival and departure in the office and the number of days they actually attend the office.