The All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF), which represents the defence civilian employees of the central government, has submitted its memorandum to the 8th Pay Commission. In this document, they have outlined several requests, including a minimum pay of Rs 69,000, a fitment factor of 3.833, risk allowance for those in hazardous industrial jobs, revised cadre structures, and higher starting pay based on qualifications, among other things.
AIDEF’s requests to the 8th CPC are for defence civilian employees working as technicians, stenographers, accountants, private secretaries, translators, and more, who work across different defence departments.
C Srikumar, general secretary, AIDEF told ET Wealth that further issues to be projected before the 8th CPC will be discussed in the 28th National Convention of AIDEF in Dehradun from May 7-18.
Now, let’s take a look at the main demands that AIDEF has raised in its memorandum submitted to the 8th Pay Commission last month.
Rs 69,000 minimum pay and 3.833 fitment factor
AIDEF has proposed a minimum basic pay of Rs 69,000 for a Level 1 employee who gets Rs 18,000 basic pay under the 7th Pay Commission.
In the memorandum, the defence employee body has also demanded a 3.833 fitment factor for all central government employees.
Strong push for higher risk and hardship benefits
AIDEF argues that a lot of defence civilian employees work in units where their health is at a high risk. Some of these units are ammunition factories, chemical units, and high-temperature furnaces.
The defence employee body has demanded that there should be Rs 15,000 monthly risk allowance for workers in hazardous industrial work. It has also demanded Rs 10,000/month allowance for workers employed in continuous-risk jobs.
Proposed pay restructuring across cadres
AIDEF has put most of the memorandum’s focus on the proposed revised cadre structures and higher pay levels for various categories of defence civilian employees. This includes roles like artisan staff/technicians, clerks, supervisors, lab technicians, fire-fighters, accountants, and more.
AIDEF has suggested that many of these employees can be moved to higher pay scales compared to what they currently receive under the 7th Pay Commission.
AIDEF has some suggestions for restructuring the workforce based on different educational qualification and job types:
| Qualification / Post Type | Proposed Placement (7th CPC Existing Level) | Proposed 8th CPC Pay Scale |
| Posts carrying Matriculation (10th Std.) qualification | Level-1 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-1 |
| Posts carrying 10+2 (Higher Secondary), 10+ITI / Apprenticeship Certificate under Apprentice Act, Computer Typing knowledge | Level-3 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-2 |
| Posts carrying Matriculation (10th Std.) with additional skill requirement like Heavy Vehicle Driving Licence | Level-3 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-2 |
| Posts like Stenographer with 10+2 qualification, typing knowledge in computer and shorthand dictation speed of 80 words per minute | Level-6 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-4 |
| Posts with Diploma in Engineering and other technological disciplines, Graduation in Arts, Science, Commerce etc. | Level-8 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-5 |
| Posts like ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) with requisite qualification of 10+2 and 2-year ANM Diploma | Level-8 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-5 |
| Posts like Pharmacist with 10+2 and 2-year Diploma Course in Pharmacy | Level-8 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-5 |
| Posts like Medical Assistant / Dresser with 10+2 and Certificate Course of First Aid | Level-5 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-3 |
| Posts like Cook carrying Matriculation (10th Std.) with Certificate in Cooking | Level-3 of 7th CPC | Pay Scale-2 |
Merge low pay scales
While AIDEF has proposed a higher starting pay level based on qualification, it also suggested merging lower pay scales to draw parity among salaries of employees. Apart from that, the defence body has proposed faster promotions, reducing residency period for promotions and organised cadre status for some departments.
For example, it wants technician categories to be upgraded to higher pay scales, seeks structured promotions for MTS cadre, proposes parity of fire service staff with Delhi Fire Service, as well as accounts officers to be upgraded to Pay Level 9, among others.
AIDEF’s proposed 8th CPC pay structure for different workers
| Existing Designation | Existing 7th CPC Pay Level | Proposed 8th CPC Pay Scale |
| Mastercraftsman / Technician (MCM) | Pay Level-6 | Pay Level-8 of 7th CPC (Proposed 8th CPC Pay Scale 5) – Entry Basic Rs. 1,82,450 |
| Highly Skilled Grade-I / Technician Grade-I | Pay Level-5 | Pay Level-6 of 7th CPC (Proposed 8th CPC Pay Scale 4) – Entry Basic Rs. 1,35,690 |
| Highly Skilled Grade-II / Technician Grade-II | Pay Level-4 | Pay Level-5 of 7th CPC (Proposed 8th CPC Pay Scale 3) – Entry Basic Rs. 1,11,930 |
| Skilled / Technician Skilled | Pay Level-2 | Pay Level-3 of 7th CPC (Proposed 8th CPC Pay Scale 2) – Entry Basic Rs. 83,180 |
| Existing Labour (Semi Skilled) / Mazdoor / Tradesman (Mate) etc. Existing Pay Level-1 to be redesignated as Assistant Technician | Pay Level-1 | Pay Level-1 of 7th CPC (Proposed 8th CPC Pay Scale 1) – Entry Basic Rs. 69,000 |
DRDO-specific reforms
In its memorandum, AIDEF has also raised demands for technical staff, administrative roles, accounts, and other positions within the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The defence employee body has proposed restructuring the technical cadre, improving the promotion rate, shortening residency periods, implementing a variable increment system and ensuring pay parity with comparable central government positions for DRDO staff.
