8th Pay Commission: Since the formation of the Eighth Pay Commission in the month of October, there is a lot of confusion among the central employees. At the same time, many demands are also being made regarding the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Pay Commission. Many major employee organizations have demanded the government to amend the ToR and add important provisions related to employees and pensioners.
In this sequence, the Central Government Employees and Workers Federation has also joined this campaign. The organization has sent a detailed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and appealed for immediate action on many important points. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Finance Secretary. The Federation claims that it represents 8 lakh central employees working in about 130 departments.
What is the demand?
The Federation has demanded that the terms of the 8th Pay Commission be amended to include provisions for pension revisions for pensioners and family pensioners. It also demanded 20% interim relief for employees due to the delay in the commission’s formation. The Federation has made the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) its primary issue in its letter. The letter states that dissatisfaction with the NPS is steadily growing among employees, and that only the restoration of the OPS can ensure future financial security.
The organization demanded that the OPS be extended to centrally funded autonomous and statutory bodies, including central government employees. In its letter to PM Modi, the Confederation also demanded that a clear effective date be set for the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission recommendations to avoid confusion among employees. Furthermore, revisions to pensions and pension-related benefits should also be included in the ToR.
Emphasis on health facilities
Another major concern of employee unions is that employees of central government autonomous bodies and statutory organizations across the country should also receive the benefits of the 8th CPC. The unions state that these employees perform similar work but are often denied the benefits of the Commission’s recommendations. Furthermore, the federation has also emphasized healthcare facilities.
It was formed in the month of October
It should be noted that in October, the central government approved the terms and conditions for the formation of the Eighth Central Pay Commission. The commission will submit its final report within 18 months, but its recommendations are expected to become effective on January 1, 2026. These recommendations will benefit approximately 5 million central government employees and 6.9 million pensioners. Furthermore, its recommendations will impact the pay structure of state government employees.
