8th Pay Commission Row: Nationwide Strike on February 12? Central Government Employees Threaten
Central government employees’ unions are threatening a one-day nationwide strike on February 12, 2026, over delays and demands related to the 8th Pay Commission.
The Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers (CCGEW) issued a notice to the Cabinet Secretary, stating that affiliated organizations will participate if demands are unmet. As of early February 2026, no cancellation has been reported, and leaders like Secretary General SB Yadav have affirmed commitment to the action.
Key Demands
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Modify the 8th Pay Commission’s Terms of Reference (ToR) to include CCGEW and National Council inputs.
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Merge 50% dearness allowance/relief with basic pay/pension and grant 20% interim relief from January 1, 2026.
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Restore Old Pension Scheme (OPS), scrap National Pension Scheme, ensure ₹9,000 minimum pension, and address contract worker pay equality.
The commission, chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, was approved in late 2025 and is due to report by mid-2027, with revisions effective from January 1, 2026, potentially including arrears. Unions seek a higher fitment factor (speculated 1.8–2.5+) for salary hikes amid rising inflation. Government has not yet merged dearness allowance or confirmed full details.
