UT Employees Federation Chandigarh presents a strong case for staff before the Pay Commission : President Gopal Dutt Joshi

UT Employees Federation Chandigarh presents a strong case for staff before the Pay Commission : President Gopal Dutt Joshi

Demand for a minimum wage of ₹40,000 and a fitment factor of 3.8 for Group D employees...

Chandigarh 17 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : While submitting its detailed memorandum to the 8th Central Pay Commission, the Federation of UT Employees and Workers, Chandigarh, has strongly put forward key demands regarding the salaries, allowances, and service conditions of central government employees, state government employees, as well as UT Chandigarh employees, teachers, and public sector personnel across the country. The Federation notes that although the recommendations of the Central Pay Commission apply directly to central and UT employees, the Commission's findings serve as the basis for salary revisions and service benefits in most states across the country.

Federation President Gopal Dutt Joshi and General Secretary Rajendra Katoch stated that the memorandum submitted to the Commission highlights that since the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, food inflation has risen by an average of 6 to 8 percent. There has been a steep annual increase in expenses—10 to 12 percent for education, approximately 12 to 18 percent for healthcare services, and about 8 to 10 percent for housing in urban and semi-urban areas—whereas the current salary structure has not kept pace with the actual needs of the employees. The Federation holds the view that the current minimum wage of ₹18,000 is insufficient for employees and their families to lead a dignified life. They pointed out that even after adding 50 percent Dearness Allowance (DA), the figure reaches ₹27,000, which remains inadequate, considering that the actual monthly expenditure for a family ranges between ₹30,000 and ₹40,000.

The Federation has placed the following key demands before the 8th Pay Commission:

A fitment factor of at least 3.8 should be fixed by the 8th Pay Commission.

The rate of the annual salary increment should be raised from 3 percent to 5 percent. A system of time-bound financial upgradation for employees at intervals of 5 to 7 years should be implemented alongside revisions to the pay matrix.

The ratio between the minimum and maximum salary should be set at 1:10, replacing the current 1:14 ratio.

The current 10-year cycle should be discontinued in favor of a salary revision every five years.

Harkesh Chand, General Secretary of the Federation, stated that the memorandum recommends eliminating salary disparities by adopting a system similar to the 'Master Scale' model prevalent in Kerala. He noted that the Federation's 24-page memorandum highlights that the total expenditure on government employee salaries accounts for only 2 to 3 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Therefore, salary increments should be viewed as a driver of economic growth, increased consumption, and revenue enhancement, rather than as a fiscal burden. The Federation expressed confidence that the 8th Central Pay Commission would positively consider the legitimate expectations of employees and pensioners and make recommendations that ensure a dignified standard of living, social security, equality, and improved administrative efficiency.