- AIDEF seeks Rs 69,000 minimum pay for Level-1 employees in 8th Pay Commission proposals
- The federation demands a uniform 3.833 fitment factor for all central government staff
- Rs 15,000 monthly risk allowance proposed for hazardous defence industrial workers
The All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF), representing defence civilian employees across multiple central government departments, has submitted its memorandum to the proposed 8th Pay Commission, seeking major revisions in salaries, allowances and cadre structures.
Among its key demands, the federation has proposed a minimum basic pay of Rs 69,000 for Level-1 employees and a fitment factor of 3.833 for all central government staff.
The employee body has also pushed for enhanced risk and hardship benefits for workers employed in hazardous defence establishments such as ammunition factories, chemical units and high-temperature industrial facilities.
Rs 69,000 Minimum Pay, 3.833 Fitment Factor
AIDEF has proposed that the minimum basic pay for Level-1 employees be increased from the current Rs 18,000 under the 7th Pay Commission to Rs 69,000 under the 8th CPC framework.
The federation has also demanded a uniform fitment factor of 3.833 for all central government employees to revise salaries and pensions.
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Higher Risk Allowances For Hazardous Work
Highlighting the nature of work carried out by defence civilian staff, AIDEF has sought:
- Rs 15,000 monthly risk allowance for employees engaged in hazardous industrial work
- Rs 10,000 per month allowance for workers in continuous-risk assignments
According to the memorandum, employees posted in ammunition factories, chemical facilities and furnace-based units face elevated occupational health and safety risks.
Major Cadre Restructuring Proposed
A significant portion of the memorandum focuses on restructuring pay levels and promotional avenues for multiple categories of defence civilian staff, including technicians, artisan workers, clerks, supervisors, accountants, translators, stenographers, laboratory staff and fire service personnel.
The federation has proposed higher entry pay scales based on qualifications, along with mergers of lower pay levels to bring parity across cadres.
It has also recommended:
- Faster promotions with reduced residency periods
- Structured career progression for MTS cadres
- Organised cadre status for select departments
- Pay parity for fire service staff with the Delhi Fire Service
- Upgrade of accounts officers to Pay Level-9
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Proposed Pay Revisions
Under AIDEF's proposed structure:
- Mastercraftsman/Technician (MCM) employees currently in Pay Level-6 should move to Pay Level-8 equivalent, with an entry basic pay of Rs 1.82 lakh
- Highly Skilled Grade-I/Technician Grade-I staff may be upgraded from Pay Level-5 to Pay Level-6 equivalent, with entry basic pay of Rs 1.35 lakh
- Highly Skilled Grade-II employees may move from Pay Level-4 to Pay Level-5 equivalent, with entry basic pay of Rs 1.11 lakh
- Skilled workers currently in Pay Level-2 may be shifted to Pay Level-3 equivalent, with entry basic pay of Rs 83,180
- Existing labour, semi-skilled and mazdoor categories in Pay Level-1 may be redesignated as Assistant Technicians with a proposed entry basic pay of Rs 69,000
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