01/06/2026
JKECC SUBMITS COMPREHENSIVE MEMORANDUM TO 8TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION, SEEKS EMPLOYEE-CENTRIC REFORMS FOR J&K WORKFORCE
OPS Restoration, Pay Parity, Hardship Allowances, Career Progression and Welfare Measures Among Key Demands
Srinagar, June 01: A high-level delegation of the Jammu & Kashmir Employees Coordination Committee (JKECC), led by its President Shah Fayaz, today met the Hon'ble Chairperson and Members of the Eighth Central Pay Commission during their visit to Srinagar and submitted a comprehensive memorandum highlighting the aspirations, concerns, and long-pending demands of government employees, pensioners, contractual workers, scheme-based employees, public sector employees, and frontline workforce across Jammu & Kashmir.
The delegation comprised Mr Shah Fayaz, President JKECC; Mr Altaf Rasool, Secretary General (Organizational Affairs), JKECC and Mr. Aijaz Ahmad Dar, Chief Spokesperson, JKECC, who collectively presented the concerns and recommendations of employees from various departments and sectors of the Union Territory before the Hon'ble Commission.
The memorandum, described as one of the most comprehensive employee representations submitted before the Commission, emphasizes the need for a progressive, employee-friendly, and region-sensitive approach while framing the recommendations of the 8th Central Pay Commission.
Addressing the Commission, the JKECC delegation stated that employees in Jammu & Kashmir continue to serve under challenging geographical, climatic, and administrative conditions, including snowbound regions, difficult terrains, border areas, and remote locations. Despite these challenges, employees have remained committed to ensuring uninterrupted governance and public service delivery.
The Committee strongly advocated for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), describing it as a matter of social security, post-retirement dignity, and financial stability. The delegation emphasized that pension should be treated as a guaranteed social security right rather than a market-linked financial instrument.
Among the major demands placed before the Commission were a realistic fitment factor under the 8th CPC, removal of pay anomalies, time-bound career progression, strengthening of ACP/MACP mechanisms, regularization of long-serving temporary and contractual workers, and implementation of equitable pay structures across all categories of employees.
The JKECC delegation also sought special consideration for Jammu & Kashmir by recommending the introduction of a Special Hill Allowance, Border Area Allowance, Winter and Snowbound Area Allowance, Regional Hardship Allowance, and Risk Allowance for personnel of the Jammu & Kashmir Police at par with Central Armed Police Forces.
The memorandum further highlighted the issues of employees working in Public Sector Undertakings, Autonomous Bodies, Corporations, and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including Samagra Shiksha, National Health Mission, ATMA, and other welfare and development programmes. The Committee urged the Commission to ensure that these employees are brought within the ambit of pay revision, social security, and career progression benefits.
Special attention was also drawn to the concerns of teachers, vocational trainers, women employees, frontline workers, pensioners, and families of deceased employees. JKECC demanded enhanced gratuity benefits, compassionate appointment reforms, educational support for dependents, subsidized housing facilities, health security measures, and improved welfare provisions for retired employees.
The delegation additionally proposed reforms in the JKHRMS system, time-bound settlement of employee grievances, strengthening of digital governance mechanisms, and recognition of employee representative bodies in consultations related to service conditions and welfare policies.
Speaking after the meeting, Shah Fayaz expressed gratitude to the Hon'ble Commission for providing an opportunity to present the collective voice of employees from Jammu & Kashmir. He stated that the Eighth Central Pay Commission represents a historic opportunity not merely for pay revision but for addressing issues of social justice, dignity, career progression, pension security, and employee welfare.
The JKECC leadership expressed confidence that the Commission would give due consideration to the unique circumstances of Jammu & Kashmir and recommend measures that strengthen the morale, financial security, and welfare of employees and pensioners while contributing to better governance and public service delivery.
