The Gujarat government has decided to implement the 6th pay commission recommendations from April 2009, said sources in the government.

The decision was taken in a meeting on Tuesday held by a State-level committee headed by State Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala with the representatives of various employees union and federations.

“We have decided to extend the benefits of the pay commission to the employees from April 2009,” said a minister when contacted.

However, the government sources say that the decision taken in the meeting will have to be approved by the State cabinet before its implementation.

“The finance minister has told us that the recommendations will be implemented with effect from April 2009,” representatives of the union told PTI.

It may be noted that issue of pay commission recommendations regarding the pay package of state employees had become a bone of contention between the state government and employees.

On December 5, employees unions and federations had given a call of mass leave in which around eight lakh employees participated and remained absent from the offices.

Subsequently, the government started negotiating with the unions and federations to arrive at a suitable solution.

Besides that the parliamentary polls are round the corner and the State government had no option but to keep the employees in good humour otherwise they may play spoilsport in the polls, sources said.