Major Demands Submitted to the 8th Pay Commission by Postal Workers' Federation

Overview of the 8th Pay Commission Demands

8th Pay Commission Update: The Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) has presented an extensive list of requests to the 8th Pay Commission, advocating for a comprehensive revision of salaries, allowances, and working conditions for postal staff. This memorandum, dated April 20, 2026, was submitted just prior to the Commission's planned discussions with various unions and associations in New Delhi from April 28 to 30.

The memorandum addresses multiple roles within the postal service, including postal assistants, sorting assistants, postmen, mail guards, administrative personnel, and technical staff, indicating a widespread demand for structural changes.

Central to FNPO's requests is a substantial increase in the minimum wage. They propose a starting basic salary of Rs 69,000 for entry-level positions like multi-tasking staff (MTS), a significant rise from the current Rs 18,000 established under the 7th Pay Commission. For Level 5 positions such as postmen and mail guards, the recommended basic salary is Rs 1,12,000, compared to the existing Rs 25,500. Similar increases have been suggested for other roles, along with proposals to consolidate certain pay levels for simplification.

Focus on Fitment Factor and Annual Increments

FNPO has suggested a fitment factor of 3.83, which is considerably higher than the 2.57 used in the previous pay commission. This factor is essential for recalibrating salaries and pensions. Furthermore, the organization has proposed to double the annual increment rate to 6 percent, arguing that the current 3 percent increase does not adequately reflect the rising cost of living. FNPO contends that stagnant increments have not sufficiently addressed the surging expenses related to housing, healthcare, and education.

To combat career stagnation, FNPO has recommended a minimum of five guaranteed promotions under the Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme. They have also called for significant adjustments to house rent allowance (HRA), proposing rates of up to 40 percent based on city classification, along with a system to directly link HRA increases to revisions in dearness allowance.

The memorandum also emphasizes progressive welfare initiatives, particularly for female employees, including menstrual leave, improved child care leave (CCL), workplace crèche facilities, and more gender-sensitive job placements.

Pension, Healthcare, and Structural Changes

On the financial side, FNPO has requested that pension liabilities be separated from departmental budgets and instead be charged to the Consolidated Fund of India. They argue that the current approach skews departmental finances and leads to inaccurate deficit reporting.

Healthcare reforms are another significant area of focus. FNPO has called for universal cashless treatment under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) for both employees and pensioners, along with the expansion of CGHS services to additional districts and annual updates to treatment package rates.

The 8th Pay Commission has acknowledged the receipt of numerous requests for meetings during its April 28-30 sessions in Delhi. They stated, "The Eighth Central Pay Commission has received a large number of requests for interaction with the Commission for April 28-30, 2026 meetings at Delhi. The Commission is scheduling meetings with as many unions/associations as possible during these dates. However, due to a tight schedule, not all requests may be accommodated." They also mentioned that further consultations will take place across various states and union territories in the upcoming months, allowing interested parties outside the Delhi NCR to seek appointments for discussions in their respective regions.