NEW DELHI: Terming the 7th Pay Commission recommendations as the "lowest" till now, the CPI today asked the Centre to discuss the same with trade unions before implementing the emoluments hike. 

"The Central Secretariat of CPI expresses serious concern over the callousness of Modi government in implementing a proper hike in emoluments of employees. The present hike of 14.3 per cent is the lowest compared to all the earlier pay revisions," the party said in a statement. 
"The Secretariat urges the government to have detailed discussion with the trade unions before implementing the present decision of the cabinet," it said. 

The CPI noted that the minimum wage of Rs 18,000 was "much lower" than Rs 26,000 as demanded by the employees and claimed that the difference between the highest and lowest wage has now become "much wider". 

The Union Cabinet on June 29 approved implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, which had recommended an overall hike of 23.5 per cent. 

The pay panel had in November last year recommended 14.27 per cent hike in basic pay at junior levels.