The formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission is the topic of widespread debate across the country for a long time now. Notably, the Union Finance Ministry has recently clarified in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Indian Parliament) that it does not intend to establish a new Pay Commission as of now. The news came as a setback for over 1 crore government employees and pensioners.
Accordingly, the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers recently wrote a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing their displeasure over the statement of the finance ministry. The employees’ body urged the Prime Minister to set up a new Pay Commission without any further delay. The confederation remarked that the central government employees haven’t received a salary hike since 2016.
8th Pay Commission: Will Govt Employees Protest on New Year?
The All India State Government Employees Federation has expressed displeasure with the central government’s refusal to constitute the new Pay Commission. Likewise, they’ve reportedly decided to organize a nationwide protest on the new year.
According to a report by ‘Dainik Tribune’, Subhash Lamba, National President of the Federation said that the Federation has scheduled the National Executive meeting in Kanpur on 28-29 December. “A concrete plan of agitation will be made in it,” the report quoted Lamba.
Debate On 186% Pay Hike
It’s worth mentioning that the central government implemented the 7th Pay Commission’s suggestions back in 2016. Furthermore, the 7th Pay Commission increased the minimum monthly salary for central government employees from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000.
Shiv Gopal Mishra, secretary of the staff side of the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), had recently said that the next Pay Commission will recommend a fitment factor of “at least 2.86”. Likewise, this sparked the debate on the potential 186% salary hike for the central government employees.
The central government’s approval of the proposed fitment factor would result in the minimum basic pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 51,480, a significant 186% pay hike. Furthermore, applying the same fitment factor, the minimum pension of the central government pensioners could also rise to Rs 25,740 from Rs 9,000.
