Major Demands Raised in First Meeting of the 8th Pay Commission
Significant Demands from Employees
The inaugural meeting of the 8th Pay Commission has revealed several critical demands from employee representatives. These include calls for an increase in the minimum wage and the abolition of the National Pension System (NPS). According to Shiv Gopal Mishra, the secretary of the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (NCJCM), employees presented a comprehensive memorandum during the meeting held on April 28, 2026. This meeting is crucial as the 8th Pay Commission will determine the salaries, allowances, and pensions for approximately 4.5 million government employees and 6.9 million pensioners.
Demand for Significant Minimum Wage Increase
Employees are advocating for a substantial raise in the minimum wage from ₹18,000 to ₹69,000, arguing that the current wage is insufficient given today's living costs. Additionally, they have proposed a fitment factor of 3.83 for determining salaries and pensions.
Emphasis on Salary Increases and Promotions
The workforce is requesting an annual increment of 6%, up from the current 3%. They have also suggested that employees should receive at least five promotions over a 30-year career. In cases of delayed promotions, they are seeking growth under the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme, along with the proposal of two additional increments for promotions.
Changes in Allowances, Loans, and Leave Policies
The memorandum includes demands to triple all allowances, particularly the House Rent Allowance (HRA), Children Education Allowance (CEA), and Risk Allowance. Furthermore, they propose linking allowances to the dearness allowance. Requests for interest-free loans and modifications to leave policies, such as encashment of up to 600 days of leave, paternity leave, menstrual leave, and parental care leave, have also been made.
Call to Abolish NPS and Reinstate Old Pension Scheme
One of the most significant demands is to abolish the NPS and reinstate the old pension scheme. Employees argue that they had previously given up other benefits for pension security, thus advocating for the return of the old system.
Concerns Raised for Pensioners
Issues concerning pensioners have also been highlighted, including demands for One Rank One Pension (OROP), periodic pension revisions, and the restoration of commuted pensions after 11 years.
What’s Next?
The Pay Commission has assured that all demands will be considered seriously, with plans for further meetings. The strong demands presented in this initial meeting indicate that significant discussions regarding salaries, pensions, and promotions are likely to unfold in the coming months.