New Delhi, July 30 -- The 8th Pay Commission held consultations in Kolkata, West Bengal, on 9-10 July, and in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 6-7 July. It is scheduled to hold three more meetings in Delhi, Chennai and Puducherry in August and September.

Discussions in these meetings centred on the fitment factor, employee grievances, annual increments, allowances and pension reforms to make government service more financially rewarding for serving and retired individuals.

Under the existing 7th Pay Commission, central government employees receive an annual increment of approximately 3% on their basic pay. Several employee organizations have submitted proposals seeking higher annual increments, primarily in the range of 5% to 7%.

The argument f...