In a move that would benefit several employees, the Government has approved the restructuring of Cadre of Artisan Staff in Defence Establishments by partially amending the recommendations of 6th Central Pay Commission.
The grade structure in the industrial as well as in the non-industrial trades, wherever already available and the pay scales of the Defence artisan staff shall stand modified w.e.f. 1.1.2006 as under:
(1) Skilled - Pay Band PB-I Grade Pay Rs. 1900
(2) Highly Skilled Grade II - Pay Band PB-I Grade Pay Rs. 2400
(3) Highly Skilled Grade I - Pay Band PB-I Grade Pay Rs. 2800
(4) Master Craftsman - Pay Band PB-2 Grade Pay Rs. 4200
Wherever the grade structure in the Industrial as well as Non-Industrial trades is already existing in the ratio of 45:55, the erstwhile Skilled and Highly Skilled, and 25% of Highly Skilled in the grade of Master Craftsman, the following will apply:
45% of the posts may be granted the pay scale of Skilled Worker (Grade pay of Rs. 1900 in the Pay Band PB-1);
25% of remaining 55% may be granted the pay scale of Master Craftsman (Grade Pay of Rs. 4200 in the pay band PB-2);
The remaining posts may be divided in a ratio of 50:50 and redesignated as Highly Skilled Worker Grade-II (Grade Pay of Rs. 2400 in pay band PB-1) and Highly Skilled Worker Grade-1 (Grade pay of Rs. 2800 in pay band PB-1).
The placement of the individuals in the posts resulting from the restructuring shall be made w.e.f. 1.1.2006, in relaxation of the conditions, if any, i.e trade test etc. as one time measure.
Highly Skilled Grade I shall be en-bloc senior to Highly Skilled Grade II.
The Post of Master Craftsman shall be part of the hierarchy and the placement of Highly Skilled Grade I in the grade of Master Craftsman will be treated as promotion.
In the case of Defence Establishments where there is no category of Skilled Workers and direct recruitment is made 100% at the level of Highly Skilled, the posts of Master Craftsman existing as on 1.1.2006 will be placed in PB-2 + GP-4200 and the remaining posts of Highly Skilled Workers may be bifurcated in HS-I and HS-II in the ratio of 50:50.