8th Pay Commission salary slab for defence employees: AIDEF seeks Rs 69,000 minimum pay, 3.833 fitment factor, higher allowances & more

The All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) has submitted a detailed memorandum to the 8th Central Pay Commission with major salary and promotion demands for defence civilian employees. The demands are for technicians, clerks, accountants, fire staff, stenographers, translators, and DRDO workers.

AIDEF has proposed that Level-1 employees under the 7th Pay Commission should receive a minimum basic salary of Rs 69,000 under the 8th Pay Commission salary structure. At present, Level-1 employees get a basic pay of Rs 18,000. The federation believes the revision is necessary to match rising living costs, inflation, and growing financial pressure on central government defence civilian employees.

One of the biggest demands in the 8th pay commission is a fitment factor of 3.833 for central government employees. The fitment factor is used to calculate revised salaries from existing basic pay. A higher fitment factor can significantly increase overall salaries, pensions, and allowances. Defence employee unions say this revision is needed to ensure fair salary growth across all employee categories.

AIDEF says many defence civilian employees work in risky environments such as ammunition factories, chemical plants, and high-temperature industrial units. To compensate for health and safety risks, the federation has demanded a monthly risk allowance of Rs 15,000 for hazardous industrial jobs. Employees working in continuous-risk duties have also been proposed a separate monthly allowance of Rs 10,000.

The federation has suggested linking pay scales more closely to educational qualifications and technical skills. Employees with matriculation qualifications may be placed in Pay Scale-1, while workers with 10+2, ITI, diplomas, shorthand, or technical qualifications could get higher placement. Diploma holders, graduates, pharmacists, nurses, and engineering staff have been proposed for upgraded pay scales under the new 8th pay commission salary structure.

AIDEF has strongly pushed for restructuring technical and industrial cadres across defence departments. Under the proposal, Master Craftsmen and senior technicians could move to much higher pay levels with significantly larger entry salaries. Skilled and semi-skilled workers may also receive redesignation and upgraded salary slabs. The federation says these changes are important to improve career progression and reduce pay gaps within technical departments.

The defence employee body has also demanded merging of lower pay scales to create salary parity among workers performing similar duties. It wants faster promotions, shorter residency periods, and organised cadre status for several departments. Technician cadres, accounts officers, fire service staff, and multi- tasking staff are among the groups expected to benefit if the proposed restructuring and promotion reforms are accepted.

Apart from industrial workers, AIDEF has sought major reforms for Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) employees. The memorandum proposes better promotion opportunities, technical cadre restructuring, improved increment systems, and salary parity with comparable central government posts. According to the federation, these reforms can help retain skilled professionals and improve career growth within DRDO departments.