8th Pay Commission to OPS restoration: 7 demands raised by govt employee union ahead of Budget 2024

Ahead of the release of the Union Budget for fiscal year 2024-25, the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has written to the Union Cabinet Secretary with seven key demands.

The list includes the announcement of 8th Pay Commission, on the lines of previous pay commissions, to revise the pay matrix, basic wage and other allowances of central government employees and pensioners, reports said.

The last pay panel was formed by the Centre in February 2014, and its recommendations were implemented in effect from January 1, 2016. The next revision is due on January 1, 2026.

The confederation also sought the restoration of old pension scheme (OPS) for all employees, including those who joined service after 2004, News18 reported on July 8, citing the letter which written to the Cabinet Secretary on July 6.

OPS, which guarantees 50% of the last drawn pay as pension for retired employees, was replaced with National Pension Scheme (NPS) for employees joining service after 2004. The latter is a market-linked contribution scheme.

Here are the other key demands raised by the employee union:

• Release of the dearness allowance and dearness relief that was frozen for 18 months following the outbreak of COVID_19 pandemic in 2020.

• Halt on outsourcing and contractorisation of government departments, and hiring of full-time employees for all vacant posts.

• Removal of 5% cap on compassionate appointments -- a reference to the employment granted to the wife or children of a deceased government employee on compassionate grounds.

• Regularisation of contractual employees, and granting equal status to employees of autonomous bodies as compared to those working with other central government departments.

• Conducive environment for employee unions, federations and other bodies to operate democratically, in accordance with the provisions of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) JCM mechanism.

The letter sent by the confederation to the government comes days after the National Council (Staff Side) - JCM, a registered body of central government employees and pensioners - wrote to the Cabinet Secretary seeking an early announcement of the 8th Pay Commission.