Outraged by the Central Government’s denial of reinstating previous pensions and the formation of the Eighth Pay Commission, hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide are set to stage a nationwide strike on February 16. In preparation for the strike’s success, employee meetings will be arranged at the state, district, and block/taluk levels across all states. A “Reach to Each” public relations campaign will follow, aiming to inform employees about the government’s policies and its stance on their demands. President of the All India State Government Employees Federation, Subhash Lamba, stated that key strike demands include reinstating old pensions, regularizing contract workers, filling vacant positions to provide employment, opposing privatization of public services and PSUs, establishing the Eighth Pay Commission, releasing 18 months’ outstanding DA and DR payments, safeguarding trade union and democratic rights, addressing National Education Policy concerns, withdrawing the Electricity Amendment Bill and Labor Codes, increasing the income tax exemption limit, and revising the pensioner’s age to 65, 70, and 75. Lamba emphasised the government’s rejection of the Eighth Pay Commission and pension restoration has fueled employee anger, prompting the nationwide strike.
Lamba pointed out that the Central Government is swiftly implementing neo-liberal economic policies, forgiving Rs 17.46 lakh crore from big capitalists’ accounts between 2014 and 2023. While significant relief was granted to corporate houses by reducing corporate tax, the government hesitates to increase the income tax exemption limit.
Lamba questioned why the economy doesn’t weaken despite granting relief to corporate houses. He criticized the government’s claim of record GST collection while withholding the 18 months’ outstanding DA-DR of employees and pensioners during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lamba highlighted the failure to fill one crore vacant posts in central and state government departments and PSUs, emphasizing the government’s reluctance to regularize contract workers and ensure equal pay and service security.
He condemned the ongoing privatization of public services, attacks on trade union and democratic rights, and the forceful implementation of the National Education Policy. Efforts to pass the Electricity Amendment Bill 2022, allowing private control of the electricity distribution system, were also criticized.