Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission – Brief of discussion between Secretary, DoPT and Staff Side of NC(JCM)

Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission – Brief of discussion between Secretary, DoPT and Staff Side of NC(JCM) issued by Secretary, National Council (Staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery on 10.02.2025

Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission – Brief of discussion with Staff Side of NC(JCM) in the Standing Committee Meeting of National Council – JCM held on 10/02/2025 under the Chairpersonship of Secretary, DOPT

1. Introduction

• Meeting Details:
  • The Standing Committee of the National Council – JCM met on 10/02/2025.
  • Chaired by the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT).
  • Attended by key Staff Side members, including Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra (Secretary), Shri M. Raghavaiah (Leader), and other members of the Standing Committee.
• Purpose of the Meeting:
  • To discuss the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) proposed by the Staff Side of NC-JCM.
  • The Secretary, DOPT, requested the Staff Side to explain their proposed ToR in detail.

2. Key Issues Discussed by the Staff Side

A. Terms of Reference for the 8th CPC

• Flexibility in ToR:
  • The Staff Side emphasized that their proposed ToR is justified as it allows the 8th CPC to address common issues of Central Government employees and pensioners, as well as specific issues related to the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Defence.
  • Highlighted the risky working conditions and frequent accidental deaths of employees in these ministries.
• Minimum Wage Calculation:
  • Advocated for a five-member family unit (instead of three) to account for the legal responsibility of children to care for parents under The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2022.
  • Stressed the need for a “Decent and Dignified Living Wage” that reflects current living standards and nutritional requirements.
• Pension-Related Demands:
  • Restoration of the non-contributory Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
  • Restoration of the commuted portion of pension after 12 years.
  • Implementation of recommendations by the Parliamentary Standing Committee to enhance pensions every five years.
  • Increase in Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to Rs. 3000 per month.
  • Resolution of CGHS-related issues.
• Inclusion of GDS and Election Commission Employees:
  • Requested for the inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) of the Postal Department and Election Commission employees in the 8th CPC’s ToR.

B. Pay Scales and Promotional Prospects

• Merger of Non-Viable Pay Scales:
  • Proposed the merger of non-viable pay scales and upgrading the minimum entry-level pay for skilled grades, considering qualifications and job responsibilities.
  • Highlighted the lack of promotional prospects for Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS).
• Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy:
  • Demanded that these allowances be extended up to post-graduation and professional courses.

C. Ministry-Specific Issues

• Railway Employees:
  • Implementation of Risk Allowance Committee recommendations.
  • Exemption of Running Allowance from Income Tax.
• Defence Employees:
  • Expressed concern over the Ministry of Defence’s delay in finalizing recommendations on Risk Allowance.

D. Pending Issues and Interim Relief

• Cadre Reviews and Intergrade Ratios:
  • Urged the DOPT to issue instructions to all ministries/departments to settle pending Cadre Review Proposals and Intergrade Ratio revisions for Artisan Staff in Defence.
  • These issues should not be delayed further under the pretext of the 8th CPC.
• Merger of DA/DR and Interim Relief:
  • Demanded the merger of 50% DA/DR for all benefits.
  • Called for the grant of Interim Relief to both employees and pensioners.

3. Response from Secretary, DOPT

• Acknowledgment of Staff Side’s Views:
  • The Secretary, DOPT, acknowledged that the discussion provided clarity on the ToR proposed by the Staff Side.
  • Assured that this was the first of many meetings and thanked the Staff Side for effectively presenting their views.

4. Next Steps

• Call for Constituent Organizations’ Input:
  • A separate circular will be issued to Constituent Organizations and Staff Side Members of NC-JCM to submit their views and justifications on each ToR.
  • This will help finalize the Memorandum on Common Issues to be submitted to the 8th CPC at the earliest.

5. Conclusion

• The meeting was productive, with the Staff Side effectively presenting their demands and concerns.
• The Secretary, DOPT, assured continued dialogue and collaboration to address the issues raised.
• The Staff Side remains committed to advocating for the welfare of Central Government employees and pensioners.

****

Text reproduced below of the letter issued by the Secretary, Staff Side, National Council (JCM) after discussion of Standing Committee Meeting dated 10.02.2025

Shiva Gopal Mishra,
Secretary

Ph.: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
E-Mail : nc.jcm.np[at]gmail.com

No.NC-JCM-2025/8th CPC

January February 10, 2025

TO
All the Staff Side Members of National Council (JCM)
Dear Comrades,

Sub:-Issues discussed in the standing Committee meeting of National Council – JCM held on 10/02/2025 under the Chairpersonship of Secretary, DOPT

A meeting of the Standing Committee of National Council -JCM was held today (10/02/2025) under the Chairpersonship of Secretary DOPT. The following Staff Side members of the Standing Committee attended the meeting: –

1. Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra (Secretary),
2. Shri M Raghavaiah (Leader)
3. Shri C.Srikumar, (Member Standing Committee)
4. Shri J.R.Bhosle, (Member standing Committee)
5. Shri Guman Singh, (Member Standing Committee)
6. Shri B.C. Sharma, (Member Standing Committee)
7. Shri Rupak Sarkar, (Member Standing Committee)
8. Shri Tapas Bose, (Member Standing Committee)

Presiding over the meeting Secretary DOPT informed that the meeting is mainly convened to discuss about the Terms of Reference of 8th CPC forwarded by the Staff Side of NC-JCM and she requested the Staff Side to explain in brief about each of the Terms of Reference of 8th CPC forwarded by them.

From the Staff Side we insisted that the Draft Terms of Reference forwarded by the Staff Side is fully justified, since it gives the flexibility to the 8th CPC to consider the various issues pertaining to the Central Government employees and pensioners in common and the Specific issues of the two major ministries viz. Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Defence since a large number of Industrial employees are working in these two ministries in very odd and risky working conditions. The frequent accidental deaths of employees while on work in the Railways and Defence was also mentioned by us. We also emphasized the need for determining the minimum wage considering the fact of the legal responsibility of the grown up Children to take care of their Parents Under The Maintenance And Welfare of Parents And Senior Citizen Act 2022 and hence the family units should be taken as five and not three units. Accordingly and also considering todays life requirement and nutrition level in which many items have to be added, so that the 8th CPC can recommend “Decent And Dignified Living Wage’ . We also justified the importance of restoring the non-contributory old pension Scheme. We also requested that the issues which are already agreed in the JCM meetings and also by the different Ministries with their Staff Side should be settled and as in the past those issues should not be referred to 8 CPC which will further delay the implementation of the same. As regards Pensioners issue we insisted for restoration of the commuted portion of the pension after 12 years and to implement the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on enhancement of pension after every five years and also the CGHS related issues and enhancing FMA to Rs.3000/- pm We also requested that before the constitution of the 8th CPC a meeting of the Standing Committee and also the NC-JCM may be convened so that all the pending issues can be discussed and resolved which will reduce the burden of the 8″ CPC. We insisted for inclusion of GDS of Postal Department and employees of Election Commission in the Terms of Reference.

The issue of merger of nonviable pay scales and also to upgrade the minimum entry level in skilled grade considering the qualification and the nature of duty of MTS category and also their condition without any promotional prospects was also mentioned by us and the 8th CPC may be asked to consider these valid points also. We insisted that the Children Education Allowance and Hostel Subsidy may be granted up to the level of post graduation and professional courses.

Apart from the above the issues pertaining to Railway employees such as implementation of Risk Allowance Committee recommendations and exemption of Running Allowance from Income Tax, Ministry of Defence not finalizing its recommendations on Risk Allowance were also mentioned by us. We also requested that an instruction may be issued from DOPT to all Ministries /Departments that all the pending Cadre review proposals, Intergrade Ratio revision of Artisan Staff of Defence etc should be settled and the same should not be kept pending on the plea of 8th CPC. We also demanded for merger of 50% DA and DR for all benefits and grant of Interim Relief both to the employees and pensioners.

Responding to our views Secretary DOPT stated that after the discussion with the Staff Side there is more clarity with regard to the Terms of Reference forwarded by the Staff Side. She further stated that this is the first meeting and such meetings will be held in future and she thanked the Staff Side for effectively placing their views in the meeting.

Comrades, we are issuing a separate circular to the Constituent Organizations and Staff Side Members of NC-JCM to forward their views with justifications on each of the Terms of Reference so that this office will be able to finalize the Memorandum on common issues of Central Government employees and Pensioners to be submitted to the 8th CPC at the earliest.

With Greetings

Yours comradely,

Sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary

[Please read date 10 February, 2025 instead of 10 January, 2025]