The Indian Railways Technical Supervisors’ Association (IRTSA) has written a letter to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), demanding the setting up of the 8th Central Pay Commission immediately.
8th Pay Commission update: Central government employees and pensioners, who have been eagerly awaiting updates on the formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission, will be pleased to know that the government has received a proposal.
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The Indian Railways Technical Supervisors’ Association (IRTSA) has written a letter to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), regarding setting up of the 8th Central Pay Commission to enable the commission to have sufficient time to give comprehensive recommendations.
The letter also stressed the necessity to address all current anomalies while not giving room for “future anomalies”.
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions has forwarded this letter to the Department of Expenditure.
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8th Pay Commission – Key demands from IRTSA
The IRTSA letter put forth many key demands in its letter. The very first demand is the constitution of a new central pay commission. The association also wants the government to rectify disparities and anomalies present in the salaries of various groups of employees.
Additionally, the association wants allocation of ample time to the Pay Commission in a bid to clear all existing anomalies concerning pay and allowances, working conditions, promotional avenues, and post classifications. The letter also stressed the importance of taking along all stakeholders during this process and getting their perspectives.
The association writes that central pay commissions get set up at regular intervals of 10 years to examine, review, evolve and recommend changes regarding the principles that should govern the emoluments’ structure, including pay, allowances and other facilities/benefits, in cash or kind, as well as the specialized needs of various Departments, agencies and services, in respect of central government employees.
It says, “3rd, 4th and 5th CPCs recommended for constituting permanent machinery to undertake periodical review of the pay, allowances and conditions of service of the central government employees. 6th CPC recommended for implementing its recommendations w.e.f. 01.01.2006, ten years period since the implementation of 5th CPC.”
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Key changes since 7th Pay Commission implementation
The 7th Central Pay Commission recommended that the pay matrix be reviewed periodically without waiting for the long period of ten years, the association said.
Since the implementation of the 7th CPC recommendations in 2016, significant changes have been witnessed in government operations, the economy, tax collections, service and demands, and poverty levels, among others, according to the IRTSA.
It also noted significant changes in the role of private sectors in public utilities and government regulation, departmental staffing levels, National Pension Scheme (NPS) coverage, substantial poverty reduction, and shifts in consumption patterns among both employees and the general public.
“There are many legal cases pending across the country in various courts regarding anomalies in pay level, increment, pay fixation, promotions, MACPS, retirement benefits, etc, consuming precious time of Courts and affecting the efficiency of government functioning,” the letter said.
The association stressed that efficiency in public services should not be compromised for any reason and there should be a continuous improvement in the quality of public service and scope for administrative reforms.
Need to set up 8th Pay Commission to remove ‘anomalies’
“New pay commission needs to be constituted for elimination of disparities/anomalies in salaries between different groups of employees and the reasons explained above. Sufficient time should be given to the Pay Commission to study all principles relating to pay & allowance, working conditions, promotional avenue, classification of posts, etc., and to hear the views of every stakeholder, including the staff side,” it said.
