8th Pay Commission ToR Sparks Outrage: Confederation Launches Nationwide Agitation Over Pension Exclusion

8th Pay Commission ToR Sparks Outrage: Confederation Launches Nationwide Agitation Over Pension Exclusion

The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has announced a fresh nationwide agitational programme after expressing strong dissatisfaction over the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

In a circular dated 24 November 2025, the Confederation said that the newly notified ToR has excluded revision of pension for pensioners and family pensioners, which it described as “unacceptable and against the basic interests of retired employees.”

The Confederation stated that it has been agitating since December 2022 over a seven-point charter of demands affecting Central Government employees.

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Despite a one-day national strike held on 9 July 2025, the Confederation says no concrete action has been taken by the Government, except for the constitution of the 8th CPC Committee. It also raised concerns over what it described as “repressive measures” against service associations, including the cancellation of union recognition and alleged victimization of office-bearers.

The circular referred to the recent suspension of the General Secretary of Kerala CoC and the dismissal of the General Secretary of AIGDSU (Department of Posts) as examples.

The Confederation pointed out that the Gazette Notification issued on 3 November 2025 by the Ministry of Finance, which constituted the 8th CPC, has kept pension revision outside the commission’s mandate and introduced a new clause to examine the “unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes.”

According to the organisation, this will adversely impact the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). After reviewing the situation in a National Executive Committee Meeting held on 25 October, the Confederation decided to relaunch phased agitation across the country.

The programme includes a nationwide campaign till 15 December 2025, followed by lunch-hour demonstrations on 16 December in all workplaces and state-level conventions by 31 December.

Further actions will be decided based on the outcome of these phases. National Secretariat members have been assigned state-wise visits to mobilise employees and explain the updated charter of demands, which includes modifying the 8th CPC ToR to include pensioners, merging 50% DA/DR with basic pay, granting 20% interim relief from 1 January 2026, scrapping NPS/UPS and restoring OPS, removing the 5% ceiling on compassionate appointments, filling vacant posts, and stopping outsourcing and corporatisation in government departments.

The Confederation also expressed solidarity with the Central Trade Unions that have announced a massive protest on 26 November 2025 against the government’s 21 November notification implementing the four labour codes, stating that the changes will make the functioning of trade unions more difficult.

The Confederation has called upon state CoCs and affiliated organisations to coordinate closely and ensure full participation of employees in the upcoming phase-wise agitation, adding that “Struggle is the right path: we are on the right path.”