The Union Cabinet has given its approval for a 78-day Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for 10.91 lakh non-gazetted railway employees for the financial year 2024-25. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Here are the key details:
- Total cost: The bonus will have a financial implication of ₹1,866 crore.
- Maximum payout: Each eligible employee will receive a maximum payment of ₹17,951.
- Beneficiaries: The bonus covers various roles, including loco pilots, track maintainers, station masters, and other Group ‘C’ employees.
- Reasoning: The bonus is intended to motivate employees and reward their contributions to the strong performance of the Indian Railways, which included a record freight loading of 1,614.90 million tonnes and carrying nearly 730 crore passengers in FY 2024-25.
- Timing: The bonus is typically disbursed before the Durga Puja and Dussehra festivals.
The bonus is calculated based on a wage ceiling of ₹7,000 per month, a point of contention for some railway unions who have called for the ceiling to be raised.
