If the pay panel report is accepted in toto by the Government, as has been advocated by its chairman Justice B N Srikrishna, women employees will be permitted to come to office late or leave early as per their needs.

“We have recommended flexi hours for women employees. Those who take care of children, can come late and go late. They have to work for fixed hours, but it won’t be mandatory for them to come to office at 9.30 am and go home at 5.30 pm,” Srikrishna said.

The Commission, he said, has also suggested that the maternity leave be increased to 180 days to help women employees nurse infants for a longer period of time. Although the Commission has recommended 40 per cent increase in salary of babus and favoured women employees and government staff at the lower rung, Srikrishna said he was prepared for criticism and brickbats. “I told the Finance Minister  that my recommendations will displease everybody. A judgement which displeases everybody is a good judgement,” he quipped.

Srikrishna said that given the monetary constraints, it was not possible to please everybody, even though “you want to give more. I displeased everyone by giving little (salary hike) to everybody,” he said.

Pointing out that the Commission was not influenced by the forthcoming General Elections, Srikrishna hoped the Government would implement the report.

Replying to questions on the decision of the Sixth Pay Panel to increase the ratio between lowest grade and highest grade from 1:10 to 1:12, he said, “the ratio has to change as things have changed”.

Stating that there was nothing sacrosanct about the ratio, he said it could be as low as 1:5 or as high as 1:100.
Pursuant to the recommendations of the Pay Panel, the difference between the government employee at the lowest rung and officials drawing high salaries will increase.

Srikrishna, however, pointed out that the government employees at the lower level will benefit as all those in Grade D will move to Grade C.