No more overtime allowance for central government staff

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday decided to discontinue overtime allowance (OTA) for its employees. However, operational staff are exempt from this rule, an order issued by the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions said. Operational staff are all non-ministerial, non gazette central government employees who are directly involved in the operation of the office. These also include those who have been tasked with the operational and maintenance of electrical and mechanical equipment.

The decision comes after the recommendation of the 7th Central Pay Commission. The order would be implemented across all ministries and departments of the government of India. All subordinate offices attached to the ministries or departments would also be expected to follow the order. "It has been clarified by the Department of Expenditure that the government has decided that given the rise in the pay over the years, the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission to discontinue the overtime allowance for categories other than operational staff and industrial employees who are governed by statutory provisions may be accepted," the order from the ministry said.

"We have asked the administration wing of ministries and departments to prepare a list of operational staff. To reduce the chances of malpractice, we have asked the administration wing to include the reason of categorizing the employees in the operational staff bracket," a ministry official said.

The order has also decided to link the granting of the overtime allowance with the biometric attendance system. However, the government has not revised the rate of overtime allowance and the operational staff would continue to get the allowance as per the government orders of 1991. "Overtime allowance must be paid only when an employee's senior officer directs the concerned staff in writing for staying back in office to attend urgent nature of work," the official added.