8th Pay Commission: Employees outraged over pension exclusion, demands for DA merger

New Delhi: The tension between the employees and the government over the 8th Pay Commission is constantly increasing, reports suggest. The government issued the Commission's Term of Reference on 3rd November 2025, but employees are outraged for not including many issues. The biggest displeasure is about the complete exclusion of pension amendments. Due to this, employee organisations have announced a nationwide agitation. Employees want DA to be merged with basic pay and promptly respond to long-pending demands. The coming weeks can be challenging for the government.

Employees organisations say that the 8th Pay Commission's exclusion of pension revision in the ToR is to ignore the interests of large sections. They believe that this decision directly affects existing pensioners and family pensioners. The organisation alleges that the unfunded cost clause included in the ToR may affect the OPS in the future. The organisation has demanded to replace the ToR, calling it a red line.

Employees organisations have raised the demand to merge DA into basic pay. He says that DA is constantly increasing and merging it into basic will strengthen the salary structure. Along with this, 20 percent interim relief should also be given to employees. The organisation says that this step can be implemented from 1 January 2026. This demand has been pending for a long time, on which a decision needs to be taken soon.

In the last few years, discontent has increased with no concrete decision on the demands of employees. The organisation alleges that the government has stepped back in many cases. The recognition of many unions has been withdrawn and action has been taken against many leaders. Employees say that this is an oppressive action and it is worsening the situation. Teh 8th CPC's ToR is intensifying this discontent.

Employees organisations have issued a phased plan for the movement. By 15th December, awareness campaigns will be conducted across the country; lunch hour demonstrations will be held in all government offices on 16th December. By 31st December, big conventions will be organized in all states. The organization has made it clear that further movement will be faster if there is no change in ToR. Also, a nationwide protest will be held against the Labour Code on 26 November.

Employees have made many demands in which the addition of pension revision by changing the ToR is the most prominent one. Along with this, merging 50 percent DA into basic pay, releasing the pending 18-month DA DR instalment and restoring OPS is also included. The organisation has also raised a demand to abolish the limit of compassionate appointment (compassionate appointment) and fill vacant posts. Demand for regularization of contract employees and re-recognition of unions is also included.

The displeasure of the employees is constantly increasing and the scope of the movement is also getting bigger. In such a situation, the big question is whether the government will consider making changes to the ToR. Employees organisations have clearly stated that until the ToR is amended, the movement will continue. The next few weeks will determine whether the situation turns into a conflict or opens the way for dialogue.