8th Pay Commission News: The All India Defence Employees’ Federation (AIDEF) has flagged a concern over the government not mentioning the date of effect of the 8th Pay Commission recommendation in the Terms of Reference (ToR) notified recently.
The federation has written a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighting the absence of a specific mention of the “date of effect” of the 8th pay panel in the ToR.
The AIDEF further said that the ToR suggests that the Centre might change the set practice going on for decades where pay panel recommendations have been implemented every 10 years. Also, the 7th Pay Commission ToR had explicitly mentioned the date of implementation of the recommendation – which was 1st January 2016.
“In the Terms of Reference (ToR) given to the 7th CPC, there is a specific Terms of Reference to recommend the date of effect of its recommendation, whereas in the Terms of Reference given to the 8th CPC, no such reference is made,” the employees’ federation said.
Will govt decide unilaterally the date of 8th Pay Commission implementation?
“This gives an impression that the government will unilaterally take a decision with regard to the date of implementation of the recommendation of 8th CPC,” the body said.
Highlighting the previous practice of implementing pay panel’s recommendations every 10 years, the AIDEF said, “You will appreciate that it is now and established fact that wage revision and pension revision of the central government employees and pensioners will take place once in 10 years. The date of implementation of the previous CPC’s recommendations is given below for your kind reference.”
Previous pay commissions’ implementation dates
4th Central Pay Commission – 1st January 1986
5th Central Pay Commission – 1st January 1996
6th Central Pay Commission – 1st January 2006
7th Central Pay Commission – 1st January 2016
The employees’ federation argues that these dates of implementation of recommendations from various pay panels must be looked at when deciding the date of effect of the 8th CPC recommendation. There has always been an exact gap of 10 years when it comes to implementing pay panel recommendations. Referring to the practice that has been followed by respective governments over many decades, the AIDEF calls for an amendment in the ToR.
“In view of the above, it is automatic and justified that the 8th CPC recommendations also should be implemented w.e.f.01.01.2026. The same may please be included in the Terms of Reference (ToR) of 8th CPC,” it said.
AIDEF seeks some more amendments in ToR
The federation in its letter to the Finance Minister said that the ToR with regard to the revision of emoluments of employees is totally different from the Terms of Reference given to the 7th Central Pay Commission.
The employees’ body highlighted how the drafting of 8th CPC ToR is causing confusion in the minds of government employees and pensioners. The federation has sought redrafting of the ToR for the new commission.
“The stakeholders’ expectation (employees’ expectation) is missing in the ToR of the 8th CPC. It is requested that the above TOR of the 8th CPC may please be redrafted at par with 7th CPC,” the employees’ federation requested.
The Centre last week announced the appointment of three members, including the chairperson, and the Terms of Reference for the new panel. The new panel will be headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and submit its report to the government within 18 months.