Wayanad Landslide: Government Orders Employees to Contribute Five Days' Salary

On Friday, the ruling pertaining to the government employees' salary dispute was released. The directive states that every government worker must contribute at least five days' salary to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, which will be utilised to aid Wayanad residents who have been affected by landslides. The decree said that the money will be taken out in three installments beginning in September. One day's compensation would be withheld in September, and two days' salary would be withheld in October and November.

Despite the fact that employees are not required to participate in the pay challenge, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged everyone to do so. The cash will be taken out of the employees' salaries in accordance with a letter of approval.

Requests for the employee consent letter have been made to all departments. The funds obtained through the salary challenge would be combined into a different account. Government, public sector, boards, universities, assisted institutions, local governing bodies, commissions, and tribunals are among the organisations that are implementing the salary challenge.

The latest salary challenge is not the same as the ones that were in place following the 2018 floods or the Covid-19 pandemic. Separate conversations were being held with every service provider. These discussions led to the decision to challenge salaries for five days. 
The pro-UDF service organisations had threatened to protest if the government insisted on requiring a salary challenge. In light of this, the government decree that was released on Friday states that salary contributions to the CMDRF are not required.

The order also serves as a reminder to the staff of the Chief Minister's urging that they not back out of the salary challenge. A consent letter with the option to request a larger deduction would be provided to each employee. Three installments would be taken out of the five days' wages for individuals who choose to donate them. A 10-instalment plan is an option for those who wish to contribute more than five days' worth of earnings.