The Staff Side of the National Council-Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM) has submitted a comprehensive proposal to the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC), recommending a significant increase in minimum salary from ₹18,000 to ₹69,000 for Group C employees. According to their memorandum, this calculation is based on a scientific living wage formula that considers the average retail prices of essential commodities and family requirements. The proposal includes a minimum fitment factor of 3.833 for existing employees and pensioners.
The Staff Side calculated the minimum salary using a systematic approach that accounts for 5.2 family units comprising one employee, one spouse, and two children (0.8 units each) plus two parents (0.8 units each), rounded down to 5 units for simplicity. The calculation includes housing costs at 7.5% of base expenses (₹2,443.31), fuel, electricity, and water at 20% of combined total (₹7,004.15), skill development at 25% (₹10,506.23), and additional expenses for marriage, recreation, and festivals at 25% (₹13,132.79). Finally, they added technology charges at 5% (₹3,283.19) to cover modern digital needs, resulting in a total of ₹68,947.15 per month, rounded to ₹69,000.
The Staff Side's comprehensive calculation includes specific food items with varying quantities and prices. Food expenses total ₹24,443.15 per month, including rice/wheat at ₹4,275, dal at ₹1,668, milk at ₹1,890, and meat at ₹6,697.32. Additional costs include clothing expenses of ₹3,257.77 (₹2,035 for clothes and ₹3,000 for stitching), detergents at ₹655, and other miscellaneous items at ₹2,444.32. The grand total of ₹68,947.15 represents the minimum living wage for a family of five units, with the final ₹69,000 rounded off as the proposed minimum pay for Group C employees.
According to the Staff Side's memorandum to the 8th CPC, they emphasize that 'Pay Revision is an investment in human capital and economic growth, not merely expenditure.' They justify their proposal by considering the average retail prices of essential food items, clothing expenditure, housing requirements, and technological needs. The 1991 Supreme Court Judgment mandates the inclusion of additional expenses for marriage, recreation, and festivals at 25% of accumulated costs, which forms a significant component of their calculation methodology.
