Bonanza for railway staff, of 78 days' pay as bonus

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday announced a productivity-linked bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages to over 11.52 lakh non-gazetted railway staff for the 2018-19 financial year “for maintaining industrial peace and motivation”. The PLB will cost the exchequer Rs 2,024.40 crores. The 11.52 lakh railway employees do not, however, include personnel from the Railway Protection Force or Railway Protection Special Force.

I&B minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday that the railway staff had been rewarded for their continuing productivity.

The Railways, that have announced plans for privatisation for some of its units, has been facing stiff resistance over this from its workers’ unions.