New Delhi

Ahead of the festive season, the Centre today cleared a proposal to give 78-day wages as productivity-linked bonus (PLB) to over 12 lakh railway employees for the fiscal 2014-15, the same as in the last three years, despite the financial crunch.

The decision will cover 12.58 lakh non-gazetted railway employees who could get up to Rs 8,975 this month as bonus.

The proposal was cleared by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to the government, the bonus is expected to motivate the employees to improve the financial position of the public transporter.

“This year also PLB equivalent to 78 days’ wages will be paid considering the good financial performance which is expected to motivate employees for working towards improving the same in future,” it said in a statement.

The financial implication is estimated to be Rs 1,030.02 crore.

The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees is Rs 3500 per month.

PLB covers all non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) spread over the entire country.

In 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 also, 78-day wages were also given as PLB to railway employees.

Productivity-linked bonus is paid to railway employees each year before the Dussehra festival.

PTI