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Union Leader Calls for Formation of 8th Pay Commission to Revise Salaries for Central Government Employees


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A top union leader, Shiv Gopal Mishra, the chief of All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF), has submitted a proposal to the government to constitute the 8th Pay Commission. The purpose of this commission would be to revise the salary and allowances paid to central government employees. Mishra, who was also the top negotiator during the formation of the 7th Pay Commission, has written a letter to the Union Cabinet Secretary urging the government to prioritize the formation of the 8th Pay Commission.

Mishra highlights that there are over 1 crore government employees and pensioners eagerly awaiting a revision in their salaries and pensions. Currently, the government forms pay commissions every 10 years to review the salary of its employees. The 7th Pay Commission was formed in February 2014 under the leadership of Manmohan Singh, and its recommendations were scheduled to be implemented from January 1, 2016.

However, due to extensive negotiations with employee unions, the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s report was delayed, and the hike in salaries and pensions came into effect from July 1, 2017. The employees and pensioners were paid arrears for the preceding 18 months.

Mishra emphasizes the need for a revision in salaries, as the periodic review of dearness allowance is not sufficient to offset the impact of inflation. He points out that post-Covid inflation is higher than pre-Covid levels. Mishra compares the retail prices of essential commodities and goods required for daily life from 2016 to 2023 and states that prices have increased by over 80% in the local market. However, the dearness allowance provided to employees and pensioners as of July 1, 2023, is only around 46%.

Mishra suggests that instead of solely relying on increasing the dearness allowance, the government should regularly review the pay matrix of employees. Currently, pay commissions are formed once every 10 years to make changes to the pay matrix. Mishra proposes that the government adopts the “Aykroyd formula” as the basis for revising the matrix periodically, without waiting for another Pay Commission. The Aykroyd formula considers changes in the prices of commodities that constitute a common man’s basket.

In conclusion, the proposal for the 8th Pay Commission aims to address the long-awaited revision in salaries and allowances for central government employees. Mishra emphasizes the need for a more frequent review of the pay matrix and suggests adopting the Aykroyd formula to better account for the impact of inflation on employees and pensioners.

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