8th Pay Commission: Amid delay in ToR circular, Govt Employees National Confederation meets Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh meets GENC delegation

Amid the delay in official notification of ‘Terms of reference,’ top staff body met Union Minister Jitendra Singh to discuss the concerns around 8th Pay Commission. A delegation from the Government Employees National Confederation (GENC) met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh in New Delhi earlier this week. The 8th Pay Commission, rationalisation of CGHS benefits, and clarity on UPS norms were among the key issues raised by the organisation.

The meeting, described as constructive by those familiar with the discussions, focused on service-related matters affecting Central Government employees.

The delegation submitted its views on a wide range of issues, from timely redressal of staff grievances to strengthening institutional consultation mechanisms and advancing employee welfare through systemic reforms.

Representatives also suggested improvements in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and addressed cadre-related matters. They emphasised that reforms in these areas would not only benefit employees but also enhance administrative efficiency.

Acknowledging the government’s openness, the GENC members praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration for being consistently receptive to employee concerns. They particularly commended the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) for clearing the backlog of promotions across various services, a step they said has boosted staff morale and brought greater clarity to career progression.

The GENC, representing sectors such as defence production, postal services, autonomous bodies, and central secretariat staff, thanked Dr. Jitendra Singh for regularly granting them meetings to voice their perspectives. They expressed confidence in the government’s continued engagement with employee bodies, especially as major administrative reviews approach.

While no official statement followed the meeting, the interaction was seen as part of the government’s ongoing effort to keep communication channels open with institutional stakeholders and address the evolving needs of its workforce.

8th Pay Commission: The endless wait for ToR

It has been more than 200 days since the Centre made the 8th Pay Commission announcement in January this year. Since then, there has been no movement around the constitution of the CPC. The Terms of reference, which is critical for setting up the framework of the CPC’s work timeline including fitment factor has not been notified so far. While there has been some delay in the past between announcement of the CPC and its constitution but this time around, the delay has stretched too far. The present delay of 203 days has crossed pervious timelines of other CPCs.