8th CPC: Railways employees seek 5 fitment factors

The Indian Railways Technical Supervisors’ Association (IRTSA) has put forward its demands for the 8th Pay Commission (8th CPC). It is asking for five fitment factors for different levels of employees, a minimum basic salary of Rs 52,600, an annual increment of 5%, and a promotional increment that should be equal to two annual increments.

In its memorandum, IRTSA has demanded as many as five fitment factors for different levels of employees.

Why does IRTSA want different fitment factors for Railways’ technical staff?

In its memorandum, IRTSA has demanded as many as five fitment factors for different levels of employees.

Also Read: 8th Pay Commission for defence employees: Rs 69,000 minimum pay and massive cadre restructuring; what defence employee body wants from 8th CPC

IRTSA’s proposed fitment factors for 8th CPC

Pay level

Proposed fitment factor

L-1 to L-5

2.92

L-6 to L-8

2.92 × 1.2 = 3.50

L-9 to L-12

2.92 × 1.3 = 3.80

L-13 to L-16

2.92 × 1.4 = 4.09

L-17 & L-18

2.92 × 1.5 = 4.38

IRTSA in its memorandum says there should be a five-grade pay structure available for the category of technical supervisors in Railways similar to CPSE (ONGC).

“The wages of technocrats, especially those in Railways, should be fixed separately from those of non-technocrat employees with a view to adequately compensate them for hazards/job requirements, additional working hours and peculiar conditions of service,” says IRTSA in its memorandum.

According to IRTSA, there are several reasons why Railways’ technical staff need higher fitment factors including qualifications, training, experience, professional knowledge, competence required for the job, duties, responsibilities and accountability as well as the hazards and challenges they face on the job among others.

Also Read: 8th CPC demands: Old Pension Scheme option for NPS subscribers; 65-year retirement age for teachers; what this employee body expects from 8th Pay Commission

Cadre structure proposed for technical supervisors with starting pay

Cadre

Level

Proposed starting pay

Increase over existing pay

Junior Engineer (JE)

Level-7

Rs. 1,57,400

4.45 times of existing Rs. 35,400

Senior Section Engineer (SSE)

Level-8

Rs. 1,66,800

3.71 times of existing Rs. 44,900

Head SSE (Asst Manager)

Level-9

Rs. 2,01,600

3.8 times of existing Rs. 53,100

Chief SSE (Manager)

Level-10

Rs. 2,13,000

—

Principal SSE (Senior Manager)

Level-11

Rs. 2,57,000

—

Dearness allowance for technical Railway employees

The Railway employee body says a separate consumer price index (CPI) should be prepared for central government employees, and expenditure items like internet expenses, bottled drinking water expenses, health insurance premium, etc., should be included in the expense basket to calculate average reading for DA.

“The principle laid down by the 5th CPC for the merger of 50% of DA with the pay as DP should be followed. DA should be paid net of income tax, since it is paid as compensation for inflation,” says IRTSA.

House rent allowance (HRA)

IRTSA in its memorandum has also advocated a change in the current three-tier classification of DA to four. It has proposed these four HRAs for technical Railway employees.

HRA for A class cities (population 50 lakh and above)- 40%+DA

HRA for B class cities (population 20 lakh to 50 lakh)- 30%+DA

HRA for C class cities (population 5 lakh to 20 lakh)- 20%+DA

HRA for D class cities (population below 5 lakh)- 10%+DA

Night Duty Allowance (NDA)

IRTSA says 7th CPC recommendation of continuing prescribed hourly rate of NDA equal to (Basic Pay+DA)/200 should be extended to all Railway employees.

The employee body says the ceiling limit of Rs 43,600 for calculating NDA for Railway employees should be removed.

Children Education Allowance (CEA)

IRTSA has proposed that CEA should be given up to children’s post graduation studies. The employee body says that CEA’s rates should be enhanced to Rs10,000/month or the actual expenditure.

Career progression

IRTSA has suggested five financial upgradation (promotion) under Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS) in the service of 30 years.

It has proposed financial upgradation under MACPS after 6, 12, 18, 24and 30 years of service of an employee.

Leave encashment

IRTSA says employees should be allowed to encash at least 50% of leave available to their credit. The Railway body says encashment of leave at the time of retirement should be enhanced from the existing 300 days to 600 days.

Daily Allowance

IRTSA has proposed that reimbursement of staying accommodation, travelling charges, lump sum amount for employees travelling out of their headquarters for work should be increased 3 times the rates recommended by 7th CPC and it should be implemented for Railway employees also.

Retirement benefits

While IRTSA has proposed that the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) should be provided to employees who have joined from January 1, 2004, it has also recommended that retirement gratuity should be calculated @ 1/3rd of a month’s BP + DA drawn on the date of retirement for each completed six monthly period of qualifying service.

“The retirement gratuity payable for qualifying service of 33 years or more should be 32 times of BP + DA, subject to a maximum of Rs 50 lakh,” says IRTSA.

It also says the maximum admissible death gratuity should be Rs 50 lakh.

Group Insurance including CGEGIS

Highlighting that the rates of subscription and insurance cover for Central Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme (CGEGIS) were last revised in January 1990, IRTSA says the government should reduce subscription amounts for insurance limits of Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 15 lakh.