The Central government has given a significant indication regarding the Eighth Pay Commission. Discussions are ongoing with state governments, and a decision on the formation of the commission's panel is expected soon. The BMS and GENC delegation met with Union Minister Jitendra Singh to discuss the concerns of employees and pensioners.
8th Pay Commission: There is welcome news for over 1 crore government employees and pensioners. The Central government has stated that serious discussions are underway with state governments regarding the Eighth Pay Commission, and an announcement on the panel's formation may be made soon. On August 4th, a delegation from the Government Employees National Confederation (GENC), a unit of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), met with Union Minister Jitendra Singh, raising several issues including the delay in the commission, the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, and pending Dearness Allowance (DA).
The minister assured that the commission's panel would be formed shortly, and further meetings would be held on pension-related matters.
BMS Delegation Meets Minister
A delegation from the Government Employees National Confederation (GENC), the apex body of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, recently met with Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh. During this meeting, discussions were held on the delay in the formation of the Eighth Pay Commission. Employees expressed that the uncertainty surrounding the commission is affecting their future plans.
Commission Formed in January, No Concrete Steps Yet
The Central government had announced the formation of the Eighth Pay Commission in January this year. However, there has been no significant progress since then. Employees are continuously awaiting the appointment of the commission members and the issuance of its Terms of Reference (ToR). The commission can only commence its work after these two processes are completed.
In the meeting held on August 4th, the delegation not only raised the issue of the Pay Commission's delay but also presented several other important concerns to the government. Among these, the demand to abolish the National Pension System (NPS) and restore the Old Pension Scheme was the most prominent. Additionally, the issue of arrears for the 18 months of DA withheld during the COVID-19 period was bly put forth.
Old Pension Scheme Also Discussed
During the meeting, employees also sought clarity from the government regarding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. The delegation stated that the new pension system is not in the interest of the employees and impacts their future security. In response, the minister assured that a meeting with the Pension Secretary would be convened soon, and concrete steps would be taken on this matter.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh assured the representatives that there would be no further significant delay in the formation of the Eighth Pay Commission's panel. He mentioned that the government is working on it seriously and discussions are ongoing with the states. Furthermore, a follow-up meeting with the Pension Secretary will be held soon to arrive at a concrete outcome on the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.
Other Employee Demands Also Raised
During the meeting, the issue of compassionate appointments was also presented on behalf of the employees. Additionally, demands were made for timely completion of the Cadre Review process and for regular meetings of the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM). Employees believe that resolving these issues will eliminate workplace inequalities and increase confidence among employees.
Why the Eighth Pay Commission is Important
The recommendations of the Pay Commission have always been crucial for government employees. Following the implementation of each Pay Commission, there have been significant changes in the salaries and pensions of employees. It has been nearly ten years since the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission were implemented. Therefore, expectations from the Eighth Pay Commission have increased. Employees believe that in the current era of inflation, the new commission will help balance their standard of living.
