The Eighth Departmental Committee concluded its sessions in Bangalore, where negotiations took place with several pensioners' associations. These include the Government Pensioners Association Karnataka, Karnataka Post and Telecommunication Pensioners Association, Karnataka Income Tax Pensioners Association, Karnataka Central Government Pensioners Association, and other organizations.
During the meetings, numerous issues concerning salaries, pensions, fitment factor, allowances, and job restructuring were discussed. The pensioners presented a number of specific demands.
Based on the requests from the pension associations, the Karnataka Pensioners Body demanded that the minimum basic rate for employees be increased to 69,000 rupees. Furthermore, a request was made to raise the fitment factor to 3.833. It should be noted that according to the Seventh Departmental Committee, the minimum basic rate was 18,000 rupees.
Based on the proposed fitment factor of 3.833, the Karnataka Pensioners Body suggested that the Eighth Departmental Committee set the minimum pension amount at no less than 34,470 rupees. Previously, under the Seventh Departmental Committee, the minimum pension was 9,000 rupees.
The pensioners also appealed to the Eighth Departmental Committee to merge 18 employee levels from the Seventh Departmental Committee into 7 levels within the new wage system.
The Karnataka Pensioners Body insists on including five units in the new wage system, whereas in the Seventh Departmental Committee, the family was considered three-unit. These five units should include the employee, spouse, two children, and parent.
Before the Eighth Departmental Committee, the Karnataka Body proposed increasing the annual salary growth from the current 3% to 6%. The pensioners argued their position by stating that the current 3% growth is insufficient to motivate employees to improve productivity, acquire skills, and work consistently.