Karnataka Government to announce hike in salaries to employees

Bangalore Jan 27: The Congress government in Karnataka is taking the upcoming elections very prestigious and is ready to announce pre-poll bonanzas for the state government may announce a 24-30% pay hike for its 6.2 lakh employees and pensioners in the budget, and introduce holidays on alternate Saturdays in government offices.

The decision would be taken to address the demands of the employees of a five-day week and a pay scale on par with that for central government employees. state government employees have a six-day week with an additional off every second Saturday of the month. The government will now likely make the fourth Saturday a holiday too, in tune with the schedule for nationalized banks.

State department of personnel and administrative services (DPAR) has said that "To ensure this does not lead to a decrease in work hours, the government is toying with the idea of extending office hours on the first and third Saturdays".