8th Pay Commission news: Not satisfied with the provisions of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Terms of Reference (ToR), employees who are members of affiliated organisations of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers have threatened to go on a one-day strike, pressing the government to accept a long list of demands.
The Confederation has served a formal strike notice to the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, stating that central government employees will observe a one-day nationwide strike on February 12, 2026, if their demands related to the 8th Pay Commission and other service matters are not addressed.
Strike notice served to Cabinet Secretary
In a letter dated January 23, 2026, the Confederation informed the Cabinet Secretariat that employees belonging to its affiliated unions will go ahead with the strike action. The notice said the strike is being called in pursuance of a detailed Charter of Demands, covering pay revision, pension reforms, labour policies, and service conditions.
The letter was signed by S.B. Yadav, Secretary General, Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, and includes a 10-point Charter of Demands (Part A) and a 12-point Charter of Demands (Part B).
Key demand: Modify 8th Pay Commission Terms of Reference
At the centre of the protest is the demand to modify the Terms of Reference of the 8th Central Pay Commission. The Confederation has sought the inclusion of suggestions given by employee unions and the Staff Side of the National Council–JCM, especially on the revision of pay, allowances, and pension for serving employees and pensioners.
Employees argue that the current ToR does not adequately address longstanding issues related to fair wage revision, parity between pensioners, and social security concerns.
Demand for DA merger and interim relief
Another major demand is the merger of 50% Dearness Allowance (DA) / Dearness Relief (DR) with basic pay and pension. In addition, the Confederation has asked for 20% of pay or pension as Interim Relief (IR) with effect from January 1, 2026, citing rising inflation and delays in pay revision.
The unions have also reiterated their demand for the release of 18 months of DA/DAR arrears that were frozen during the Covid-19 pandemic, and for restoration of commuted pension after 11 years instead of the existing 15 years.
Pension, NPS and service-related issues
The Charter of Demands also calls for scrapping the NPS/UPS and restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all employees. It seeks removal of distinctions among pensioners based on date of retirement and demands uniform implementation of accepted Pay Commission recommendations.
Other demands include filling up vacant posts across departments, stopping outsourcing and corporatisation, easing restrictions on compassionate appointments, and regularising contractual, casual, and GDS employees.
Wider labour and policy demands
In Part B of the Charter, the Confederation has raised broader issues such as scrapping the four labour codes, ensuring equal pay for equal work for contract workers, fixing a minimum pension of ₹9,000 per month, controlling price rise, removing GST on essential items, halting privatisation of PSUs, and withdrawing certain proposed legislations.
What’s the status of the 8th Pay Commission?
The 8th Central Pay Commission is expected to be constituted to recommend revisions in salaries, allowances, and pensions of central government employees and pensioners. While the government has outlined its broad framework through the Terms of Reference, employee unions have been demanding changes to ensure quicker implementation, interim financial relief, and broader consultation with staff representatives.
With the strike notice now formally served, pressure is mounting on the government to open talks with employee bodies and clarify its roadmap for the 8th Pay Commission.