Thiruvananthapuram, April 29: In the wake of the financial crisis created by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kerala government had decided to defer the payment of six days salary of government employees for the next five months but the Kerala High Court had stayed the order. Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan announced that in the context of the High Court order, the cabinet meeting held today has decided to recommend to the Governor to promulgate an ordinance to give legal effect to the government’s decision.
Giving details, the Chief Minister said, “The Kerala Disaster and Public Health Emergency (Special Provisions) Ordinance 2020 would empower the State government to defer the salary of an employee by an amount not exceeding one-fourth of the total monthly pay, for managing a situation arising out of a disaster or public health emergency. There is a provision to give back the deferred pay to the employee.” This would be applicable to all government employees, employees of all State-owned Enterprises, Public Sector Undertakings, Quasi-Government organisations, Universities, etc in the State.
The CM also informed that it has been decided to recommend to the Governor to issue an ordinance to effect a 30% cut in the monthly gross salary or honorarium of all elected representatives in the State – Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, members of different Boards under the Government and members of Local Self Government bodies, for a period of one year. There would be a 30% deduction in the MLA’s monthly amenity fund also.