SynopsisEmployee bodies from Jammu & Kashmir have urged the 8th Pay Commission to adopt a fitment factor between 2.86 and 3.68, which could raise the minimum basic pay from Rs 18,000 to Rs 51,480–Rs 66,240. They also sought pension parity, DA merger, improved HRA, healthcare, tax relief, career progression, and special consideration for employees serving in remote, border and hardship areas.ET OnlineThe J&K employee bodies argue that a 3.86 fitment factor would significantly improve employee welfare and restore purchasing power that has been affected by inflation.All Employees Joint Association, Jammu & Kashmir and The All Sikh Minority Employees Association have demanded a fitment factor in the range of 2.86-3.68 and the minimum basic pay in the range of Rs 51,480-Rs 66,240 from the 8th Pay Commission in a meeting during its visit to the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. In a joint report submitted to the 8th Pay Commission chairperson Ranjana Prakash Desai and other officials, both the employee bodies from Jammu and Kashmir also demanded pension parity, dearness allowance merger, enhanced healthcare facilities, among other things. Jagmeet Kour Bali, chairperson, the All Employees Joint Association, and All Sikh Minority Employees Association, Jammu & Kashmir, told ET Wealth Online, that both the employee bodies have also recommended the improved House Rent Allowance (HRA), tax relief, and career progression opportunities. Bali said since many employees in Jammu & Kashmir face challenges due to difficult geographical and climatic conditions, both employee bodies have sought special relevance for the employees from the union territory. Some of the key demands by All Employees Joint Association, Jammu & Kashmir and The All Sikh Minority Employees Association from the 8th Pay Commission are as follows. 2.86 to 3.68 fitment factor for 8th Pay Commission Unlike many employee bodies that have recommended a single fitment factor for all central government employees, both employee bodies from J&K have asked the 8th Pay Commission to choose between 2.86, 3.0 and 3.68 fitment factors. The document submitted by the J&K employee bodies to the 8th Pay Commission said, “Employees and pensioners of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir strongly support the adoption of a fitment factor between 2.86 and 3.68, which could raise the minimum basic pay from Rs 18,000 to between Rs 51,480 and Rs 66,240 while substantially improving pensionary benefits.Impact analysis of different fitment factors (As per J&K employee bodies)Current minimum basic pay of Rs 18,000 (Level 1 employee) Fitment Factor Revised Minimum Pay 2.57 ₹ 46,260 2.86 ₹ 51,480 3 ₹ 54,000 3.68 ₹ 66,240 The J&K employee bodies argue that a 3.86 fitment factor would significantly improve employee welfare and restore purchasing power that has been affected by inflation. Among its other demands, the J&K employee bodies have suggested the 8th Pay Commission these changes to implemented for employees from the union territories- Full pension parity for all pensionersMerger of Dearness Allowance before pay fixationRevision of minimum basic pay to reflect current living standardsEnhanced healthcare and social security measuresImproved HRA structure, particularly for urban and difficult areasStrengthened promotion and career progression mechanismsReduction of commuted pension restoration period to 12 yearsSpecial consideration for employees serving in remote, border and hardship areas of Jammu & Kashmir Special relevance for Jammu & Kashmir employees The J&K employee bodies say since employees in Jammu & Kashmir face several unique challenges, they should be given special relevance in the new pay commission. Some of the challenges that the employee bodies have recommended in its report are-Difficult geographical and climatic conditionsHigh transportation costs in remote and hilly districtsRising housing costs in urban centres such as Jammu and SrinagarIncreased expenditure on education and healthcareService delivery responsibilities in border and far-flung areasSecurity-related challenges in certain regions ...more