Gangtok, Aug. 19: The Sikkim government has constituted the fourth pay commission for its employees to suggest “feasible” and “desirable” changes in their wage structure.

The two-member panel headed by the former chief justice of the high court, R.K. Patra, has been asked to submit its report by March 31, 2009.

Chief minister Pawan Chamling had hinted at a new wage structure for 20,000-odd government employees in his Independence Day speech.

The commission, the notification for which was issued yesterday, has been asked to suggest changes to ensure uniformity in pay scales in tune with the duties and responsibilities of the employees in each grade. It will also suggest the rationalisation of the grades, official sources said.

The panel will look into the benefits already enjoyed by the employees and suggest ways to rationalise them to promote efficiency in governance. It will examine the travel and daily allowances to give them uniformity. Benefits in case of death in harness and retirement will also be studied by the commission.

D.R. Kharel, the president of the state civil service officers’ association, said the last pay commission was set up 10 years ago and a new one was a long overdue. “We will request the government to ask the panel to submit its recommendations by December,” he said.