The confirmation comes after a delegation from the National Federation of Government Employees (GENC), affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), met Singh to highlight delays in implementing the 8th Pay Commission.
Big relief is on the way for central government employees and pensioners. The government has confirmed that the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) will be constituted soon, ending months of speculation and long anticipation. Alongside the commission’s formation, discussions are also set to take place on the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Government’s Assurance
Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh assured employee representatives that the 8th Pay Commission announcement is imminent. A meeting with the Pension Secretary has also been arranged to address OPS restoration.
The confirmation comes after a delegation from the National Federation of Government Employees (GENC), affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), met Singh to highlight delays in implementing the 8th Pay Commission.
Key Employee Demands Raised
During the meeting, the delegation submitted a detailed memorandum raising several major issues:
Delay in 8th Pay Commission implementationAbolition of National Pension System (NPS)Adoption of Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)Restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS)Release of 18 months’ DA arrears frozen during Covid-19Increase in compassionate appointments and cadre reviewsEnsuring regular JCM meetings
Why the 8th Pay Commission Matters
Every decade, a new pay commission reviews and revises salaries, allowances, and pensions for central government employees. The 7th Pay Commission was last implemented in 2016. The 8th Pay Commission is expected to:
Raise basic salariesIncrease pensionsRationalize allowances under a simplified pay structure
However, reports suggest that some allowances may be scrapped this time, including:
Travel allowanceSpecial duty allowanceSmall regional allowancesOutdated departmental allowances like typing/clerical allowance
While employees are hopeful for a substantial hike in pay and pensions, the government’s stated objective is to make the salary structure “logical and simple.”
With growing pressure from employee unions, the official notification for the 8th CPC could come anytime in the coming weeks.