Appreciating the hardship being faced by working women, the Sixth Pay Commission has suggested introduction of flexible working hours to help them attend to the needs of their growing children.

If the pay panel report is accepted in toto by the government, as has been advocated by its chairman Justice B N Srikrishna, women employees will be permitted to come to office late or leave early as per their needs.

"We have recommended flexible hours for women employees. Those who take care of children, can come late and go late.

"They have to work for fixed hours, but it won't be mandatory for them to come to office at 9.30 am and go home at 5.30 pm," Srikrishna said.

The Commission, he said, has also suggested that the maternity leave be increased to 180 days to help women employees nurse infant child for a longer period of time.

Broadly, he said, the Commission has tried to increase the efficiency of the government machinery through a variety of recommendations.

Although the Commission has recommended 40 per cent increase in salary of Babus and favoured women employees and government staff at the lower rung, Srikrishna said he was prepared for criticism and brickbats.

"I told the Finance Minister (P Chidambaram after submitting the report) that my recommendations will displease everybody... A judgement which displeases everybody is a good judgement," he said. As a lawyer, Chidambaramn agreed, the Pay Panel chief quipped.

Srikrishna further said that given the monetary constraints, it was not possible to please everybody, even though 'you want to give more'.

"I displeased everyone by giving little (salary hike) to everybody," he said.

Pointing out that the Commission was not influenced by the forthcoming general elections (due early 2009), Srikrishna hoped the government would implement the report. "I hope the government would implement the report in its entirety," he said.

Replying questions on the decision of the Sixth Pay Panel to increase the ratio between lowest grade and highest grade from 1:10 to 1:12, he said, "the ratio has to change as things have changed".

Stating that there was nothing sacrosanct about the ratio, he said it could be as low as 1:5 or as high as 1:100.

Pursuant to the recommendations of the Pay Panel, the difference between the government employee at the lowest rung and officials drawing high salaries will increase.

Srikrishna, however, pointed out that the government employees at the lower level will benefit as all those in Grade D will move to Grade C.

"We have to encourage multi-skilling and multi-tasking in the government," he said.

The Commission, he added, also suggested introduction of the performance-linked pay by providing for higher ncrement for those officers who do well. As against the normal increment of 2.5 per cent of pay (including grade pay), the officials who excel will receive an increment of 3.5 per cent.

As it was not possible to suggest a general criteria for good performance, he said the concerned ministries and departments will work out their own parameters for judging the performance.

The performance-linked pay, which would initially be introduced among the officers, could later be extended to the lower government staff, he said.

"The unions themselves would demand such an incentive once they see the benefit," he added.

• Sixth Pay Commission: Coverage