The Joint Council of Postal Employees (JCPE) has requested that the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for the year 2025-26 be paid on or before October 17, 2026, the start of Durga Puja. This demand aims to help employees manage the increased expenses during the festive season. Additionally, employee groups want the PLB calculation ceiling increased from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000 to reflect current wage standards and inflation.
- JCPE asks for PLB payment before Durga Puja to support employees' festive expenses.
- Staff Side of National Council-JCM demands raising the PLB calculation ceiling from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000.
- Employee organizations urge the 8th Pay Commission to remove the outdated ₹7,000 bonus cap.
- Current bonus calculations are seen as symbolic rather than performance-based due to the cap.
Why do employees want the Productivity Linked Bonus before Durga Puja?
The JCPE, representing seven postal unions, highlighted that Durga Puja and Dussehra are important festivals with significant financial demands. They wrote to the Department of Posts Secretary requesting the PLB be disbursed by October 17, 2026, to help employees meet their financial commitments and celebrate meaningfully with their families. Early payment would provide much-needed financial relief during this period.
What is the current issue with the PLB calculation ceiling?
Currently, the PLB is calculated based on a wage ceiling of ₹7,000 per month, even if an employee earns more. A recent government notification stated that if wages exceed ₹7,000, the bonus calculation should use the higher of ₹7,000 or the central minimum wage. Since the central minimum wage is now ₹21,000, the Staff Side of the National Council-JCM has demanded that the ceiling be raised accordingly to ₹21,000.
What changes are employee groups seeking from the 8th Pay Commission?
Several employee organizations have submitted memorandums to the 8th Pay Commission requesting a revision of the PLB rules. The Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) pointed out that the ₹7,000 cap is outdated and disconnected from actual salaries and living costs. They argue that this limit has reduced the bonus to a mere formality rather than a true productivity incentive.
The Ministerial Staff Association from the Survey of India also criticized the ceiling, stating it has made bonuses symbolic rather than meaningful rewards. They propose that bonus calculations be based on actual Basic Pay plus Dearness Allowance, removing the artificial cap to restore the bonus's role as a productivity-linked incentive.
Similarly, the Railway Senior Citizens' Welfare Society recommends that the bonus system continue but with periodic revisions to keep pace with rising living costs.
What has been the government's response so far?
During the 49th National Council (JCM) meeting on May 11, the Official Side said that any revision to the bonus ceiling could only be considered after changes are made under the Code on Wages 2019. This indicates that while the demand is acknowledged, formal changes require legislative or regulatory updates.
