8th Pay Commission: Employee Unions Demand Higher Bonus Ceilings Ahead of Dussehra Festival

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has issued recent notifications under the Code on Wages, 2019, outlining revised frameworks for statutory bonus calculations and eligibility ceilings for employees. Under the notification issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in New Delhi, the calculation for an eligible employee's bonus will be determined using a wage of INR 7,000 per month or the minimum wage fixed by the Central Government, whichever is higher.

The directive exercises powers under sub-sections (1) and (3) of Section 26 of the Code on Wages, 2019. Previously, bonus calculations for central government employees relied strictly on the lowest private sector pay scale threshold of INR 7,000. 8th Pay Commission: What if Annual Increment Rises From 3% to 7%? See 10-Year Salary Impact.

Govt Should Adopt Minimum Basic Salary Determined in Each Sector As the Basis for Bonus Calculation, Says Manjeet Patel

भारत सरकार का कहना है कि यदि केंद्र ने मिनिमम वेज को 7000 से अधिक कंसीडर किया तो अधिक वाले वेज के अनुसार बोनस का भुगतान सुनिश्चित किया जाएगा। इसी आधार पर अगर सरकार केंद्रीय कर्मचारियों को भी मिनिमम वेतन 18000 के आधार पर बोनस का भुगतान करे तो कुल बोनस ₹18000×30÷30.4 के अनुसार… pic.twitter.com/ds47PNnqxG

— Dr Manjeet Singh Patel (@ManjeetIMOPS) September 4, 2026

Employee Associations Push for Sector-Specific Bases

Employee associations have raised concerns regarding the benchmark, suggesting that the Centre utilise the minimum basic salary prescribed for each sector as the basis for calculating bonus payments for central government staff. Manjeet Singh Patel, President of the All India NPS Employees Federation, said, "The Government of India states that if the Centre considers a minimum wage above INR 7000, then payment of bonus will be ensured according to the higher wage."

He explains, "On this very basis, if the government also pays bonus to central employees on the basis of a minimum salary of 18000, then the total bonus should amount to ₹18000×30÷30.4, i.e., ₹17763.00." Using this formula, a Level 1 employee with a minimum basic pay of INR 18,000 would see an indicative bonus of INR 17,763, while a Level 6 employee with a minimum basic pay of INR 35,400 would receive an indicative bonus of INR 34,934.

In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Singh noted that an appeal has already been made to set the bonus at INR 27,694 under the Pay Commission, adding that "...if the government gives the bonus in its own way, it could still create the possibility of something better after ten years," he said. He further wrote, "Therefore, our request to the Government of India is that for the payment of bonus, it should adopt the minimum basic salary determined in each sector as the basis for calculation". 8th Pay Commission: Dearness Allowance Projected To Hit 67% Ahead of CPC Deadline.

Demand for Enhanced Bonus Ceilings Ahead of Festivals

Parallel to the calculation discussions, the Staff Side NC-JCM has formally requested the Center to increase and release revised bonuses of up to INR 21,000 for central government employees ahead of the upcoming Dussehra festival. "Since the Dussehra festival is nearing and the government will be issuing orders for payment of PLB (productivity-linked bonus) / Bonus / Ad hoc Bonus, ... the bonus payable ceiling for the Central Government employees may be enhanced from INR 7,000 to INR 21,000,” stated a letter issued by the NC-JCM Secretary, urging authorities to issue necessary administrative orders.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 05, 2026 02:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).