8th Pay Commission Update: Central employees are eagerly anticipating the rollout of the 8th Pay Commission’s recommendations. Before this happens, they’re crunching numbers to see how much their salaries might go up. The fitment factor is going to be crucial in this calculation. Looking back, during the 6th Pay Commission, employees saw their basic salaries rise by 1.92 times because the fitment factor was set at 1.92.
In contrast, the 7th Pay Commission had a fitment factor of 2.57, which led to a 2.57 times increase in basic salaries. Now, with the 8th Pay Commission in place, both employees and pensioners are hopeful for another substantial raise. Let’s break down the estimates.
What’s the expected salary increase for employees from level 1 to 5?
Experts are making projections about potential salary hikes for employees ranging from Level 1 to Level 5 based on the possible fitment factor. If the fitment factor lands around 1.92, 2.15, or 2.57, then basic salaries for those at the minimum wage up to mid-level positions could see a notable boost. Manjeet Singh Patel, the National President of the All India NPS Employees Federation, suggests that the fitment factor for the 8th Pay Commission might be around 2.13.
This estimate takes into account the current 58% dearness allowance, possible future DA hikes, annual salary increments, and family unit calculations. So, it’s evident that the 8th Pay Commission could lead to a significant rise in employee earnings. It’s important to note that under the 7th Pay Commission’s pay matrix, central government employees are categorized into 18 levels. Level 1 starts with Group D employees, while Level 18 is designated for the highest administrative role in the country, the Cabinet Secretary. These 18 levels encompass Group D, C, B, and A employees.