Union Cabinet Approves 78-Day Bonus To Railway Workers

The Union Cabinet has approved the payment of a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for the country’s 11,72,240 railway employees, recognising their exceptional performance during the 2023-2024 financial year. The total cost of the bonus package amounts to Rs 2,028.57 crore, aimed at motivating and rewarding the workforce for their contributions to the railways' success.

According to the government’s official statement, the PLB, equivalent to 78 days’ wages, will be paid to a wide range of railway staff, including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff and other Group C and D employees. The maximum payout per eligible employee will be Rs 17,951 for the 78-day period.

The statement emphasised that the payment of PLB serves as an incentive to encourage railway employees to continue striving for improved performance across the network.

The Indian Railways witnessed remarkable achievements in the 2023-2024 financial year. It loaded a record 1,588 million tonnes of cargo and transported nearly 6.7 billion passengers. According to the government, multiple factors contributed to this success, including enhanced infrastructure following significant capital expenditure, operational efficiency, and the adoption of better technology.

This year’s bonus matches the 78-day bonus that was distributed in 2022 to non-gazetted railway employees. The payout per employee last year was also Rs 17,951, which amounted to a total disbursement of Rs 1,832 crore. Group D employees, whose minimum basic income as per the Sixth Pay Commission is Rs 7,000, received approximately Rs 18,000 for the 78-day bonus period last year.