8th Pay Commission: A meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Council of Employees-JCM was held on 10 February. The meeting was chaired by the DoPT Secretary.
8th Pay Commission: The Central Government had recently sought the terms of reference for the formation of the 8th Pay Commission from the highest forum of employees, the National Council JCM. After that, a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Council of Employees-JCM was held on 10 February. The meeting was chaired by the DoPT Secretary. In this, the terms of reference for the formation of the 8th Pay Commission were discussed. The employee side has said that in the current circumstances, there is a need for a defined and non-contributory ‘old pension’ scheme. Along with other suggestions, this demand should also be prominently made a part of the terms of reference of the 8th Pay Commission.
The staff side was represented by Comrade Shiv Gopal Mishra (Secretary) in the meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Council-JCM on 10 February. From the employee side, M Raghavaiya (leader), C. Srikumar, (Member Standing Committee), JR Bhosale, (Member Standing Committee), Guman Singh (Member Standing Committee), BC Sharma, (Member Standing Committee), Rupak Sarkar, (Member Standing Committee) and Tapas Bose (Member Standing Committee) were present in the meeting. The representatives of JCM have emphasized the need for a thorough review and improvement of the rules that determine salary allowances. In the present times, the requirements of life have increased. Employees and their families are not even able to get treatment. There should now be a minimum of five units in a family instead of three units.
For the terms of reference of the 8th Pay Commission, the employee side said that the minimum salary should be fixed keeping in mind the requirements of life. The employee should be in such a position that he can live a respectable life. The employee side has also demanded the restoration of the old pension scheme. There is a need to pay special attention to railway and defense civilian employees in the terms of reference. Apart from this, the issues of pensioners and provisions related to CGHS have also been demanded to be included in the terms of reference.
Other demands include examining the current structure of salary, allowances, other benefits/facilities of employees of various categories, issues related to retirement such as pension/gratuity and other terminal benefits etc. The suggestions given to the government by the JCM include employees of the Central Government, both industrial and non-industrial. Apart from these, personnel related to All India Services, personnel of defense forces and paramilitary forces, personnel related to the postal department, personnel of Union Territories, officers and employees of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, officers and employees of the Supreme Court, members of regulatory bodies constituted under the Act of Parliament (except RBI) and employees of autonomous bodies and institutions of the Central Government are also included.
It has been said on behalf of the employees that in the context of the recommendation of the 15th Indian Labor Conference, the pay structure, benefits, facilities, retirement benefits, welfare matters etc. should be determined to provide minimum wages as ‘decent and respectable living wages’. Considering the development and life requirements in the last 65 years, amendments to Dr. Aykroyd formula as well as various decisions of the Supreme Court on fixing minimum wages should also be considered. As per the recommendation of an expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Labor and Employment to determine the National Minimum Wage Policy in the year 2019, increasing the consumption units from 03 family units to 3.6 family units should also be considered. This should also be a part of the terms of reference.
Demand for merger of non-viable pay scales
The 8th CPC should consider merging non-viable pay scales such as Level-1 with Level-2 and Level-3 with Level-4 and Level-5 with Level-6. To consider the existing anomalies in the MACP scheme and recommend a very defined hierarchical structure in the promotion hierarchy and a minimum of 5 promotions in service with MACP, also included in the terms of reference.
Determination of interim relief to be granted to Central Government employees and pensioners immediately, to be considered. Percentage of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief to be merged with pay and pension, to be determined immediately. To settle various anomalies of 7th CPC, which were raised by the Staff Side in the meetings of the Anomalies Committee and JCM meetings, to consider their resolution in the terms of reference. JCM members have described it as an important issue.
Implementation of recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee on pension, death-cum-retirement, gratuity, family pension, restoration of commuted portion of pension after 12 years, increase in pension after every five years, also sent for terms of reference. Necessary improvements in existing retirement benefits, parity between past and future pensioners, this suggestion has also been sent. A suggestion has also been placed before the DoPT Secretary to review and restore the defined and non-contributory pension scheme under CCS (Pension Rules) 1972 (now 2021) for Central Government employees recruited on or after 1st January 2004.
To recommend to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on FMA on matters relating to CGHS and recommend ways to provide cashless/hassle free medical facilities to employees and pensioners including postal pensioners, these may also be included in the Terms of Reference. To review and recommend the introduction of Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy upto postgraduate level. To review and recommend the introduction of such advances which are necessary in the present situation as well as to restore the advances which have been discontinued, these may also be included in the Terms of Reference of the 8th Pay Commission.
Considering the risk and hardship involved in the nature of duties of Railway employees who work round the clock in 365 days, to consider payment of Risk and Hardship Allowance to all categories of employees in Indian Railways. To consider the extreme, perennial, hazardous and dangerous working conditions under which Defence civilian employees are involved in the manufacture and storage of arms, ammunition, chemicals, explosives and acids etc., to recommend a special risk allowance, insurance coverage, compensation etc., these may also be part of the Terms of Reference.
C. Srikumar, member of JCM and general secretary of AIDEF, said, there should be at least five promotions for all categories of employees. Civilian employees of the Defence Department are working in very risky conditions. Accidents happen in ordnance factories. The definition of employee welfare is changing after corporatisation. Employees who lose their lives or are injured in accidents during work need better treatment and compensation. They are entitled to special coverage of risks.
The CPC needs to study this. A risk allowance committee was formed by the MoD. Despite repeated requests by the Standing Committee of NC-JCM, it is not functioning. Representation meetings are not called. The abolished festival advance and other advances should be restored. 50% DA should be merged with basic pay and 50% DR with pension. Secretary DoPT has assured the employee side that the points raised by the staff on the terms of reference will be considered. It was also assured that further meeting with the staff side would take place at an appropriate time.
