8th Pay Commission: AITUC Seeks Higher DA, OPS Restoration Among 12 Key Demands

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has submitted 12 key demands to the 8th Pay Commission. In a letter to chairperson Justice Rangana Prakash Desai, the union urged a fitment factor of at least 3.0 to increase salaries of central government employees. AITUC also demanded restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and a 6% annual increment.

Other proposals include revising the dearness allowance (DA) calculation formula, increasing leave encashment days, and reducing the commuted pension restoration period to 11 years. The union also sought higher compensation and benefits for certain categories of government employees under the new pay structure, according to a report by the Economic Times.

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Here are the 12 key demands by AITUC:

The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has demanded a fitment factor of at least 3.0 from the 8th Pay Commission. The fitment factor is a key multiplier that is used to revise the salaries and pensions of central government employees and pensioners. AITUC said that a 3.0 fitment factor would significantly increase pay levels and improve the financial condition of government staff.

1. AITUC has also urged the 8th Pay Commission to revise the family unit used for salary calculations. While the 7th Pay Commission considered a three-unit family (husband, wife, and two children), AITUC has proposed increasing it to five by including parents.
2. AITUC has proposed raising the annual increment rate for central government employees to at least 6%. Currently, under the 7th Pay Commission, employees across all 18 pay levels receive a 3% annual increment.
3. AITUC has urged the 8th Pay Commission to scrap the National Pension System (NPS) and Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The union also said that the pension is a deferred wage and demanded a 5% pension increase every five years, aligning with the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee.
4. AITUC has demanded promotion reforms, seeking at least five promotions during a 30-year government career. In their letter, the union also noted that the current system fails to address employee stagnation.
5. AITUC has asked the 8th Pay Commission to reduce the pension commutation restoration period from 15 years to 11-12 years. The union also demanded changes in dearness allowance (DA) calculations.
6. AITUC has demanded that the leave encashment limit for central government employees be increased from 300 days to 450 days at retirement. The union also sought higher risk and hardship allowances, cashless medical treatment, menstrual leave and longer paternity leave.
7. AITUC has also sought higher compensation for employees in Railways, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and defence civilian services. Citing the risks and hardships they face, the union proposed Rs 2 crore compensation for death, Rs 1.5 crore for major accidents, and Rs 10-25 lakh for minor accidents.
8. AITUC has opposed the Agniveer scheme, demanding permanent recruitment in the armed forces. The union said existing Agniveers should be regularised with attractive entry pay, clear career progression and other benefits.
9. The union has also opposed contractual employment, outsourcing and lateral entry in central government jobs. The union urged the government to fill about 15 lakh vacant posts through regular recruitment, emphasising that permanent positions ensure job security, better service delivery and fair career growth.
10. AITUC has demanded that the minimum Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for government employees be equal to their actual basic pay. Currently capped at Rs 7,000 for 30 days, the union said the bonus should have no artificial ceiling and match the minimum 30-day basic pay of Rs 18,000.
11. AITUC has urged the 8th Pay Commission to ensure a uniform pay structure across all government departments. The union also said that the pay should not be linked to private sector benchmarks due to differing responsibilities.
12. AITUC has recommended that the lowest-to-highest salary ratio in central government pay be set at 1:10. Currently, under the 7th Pay Commission, the ratio is about 1:14, with the lowest pay Rs 18,000 and the highest Rs 2,50,000.

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