pay, retirement, life insurance, or any other employee benefit) that requires any deduction or contribution, or that imposes any requirement or limitation on the basis of a rate of salary or basic pay, the rate of salary or basic pay payable after the application of this subsection shall be treated as the rate of salary or basic pay. (7) Limitations Nothing in this subsection shall be considered to permit or require the payment to any employee covered by this subsection at a rate in excess of the rate that would be payable were this subsection not in effect. (8) Exceptions The Office of Personnel Management may provide for exceptions to the limitations imposed by this subsection if the Office determines that such exceptions are necessary to ensure the recruitment or retention of qualified employees. (b) Comparability of adjustments (1) In general Notwithstanding subsection (a), effective as of the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning after December 31, 2016, the percentage increase in rates of basic pay for the statutory pay systems under sections 5344 and 5348 of title 5, United States Code, that takes place in fiscal year 2017 shall be not less than the percentage increase received by employees in the same pay locality whose rates of basic pay are adjusted under sections 5303 and 5304 of title 5, United States Code. (2) Pay localities For the purposes of this subsection, prevailing rate employees in localities where there are no employees whose pay is increased pursuant to sections 5303 and 5304 of title 5, United States Code, and prevailing rate employees described in section 5343(a)(5) of title 5, United States Code, shall be considered to be located in the pay locality designated as Rest of United States under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code.