8th Pay Commission: What is ICMR’s 3490 Calorie Formula? Your salary will determine the plate of food? What type exactly?

8th Pay Commission: Discussions regarding the 8th Pay Commission are going on continuously among the central government employees and pensioners. The main demand of the employee unions is regarding increase in minimum wages. Against this background, a specific formula has emerged in the discussion which is directly related to the daily diet of the employees. In particular, in a submission submitted to the government, the National Joint Consultative Machinery has demanded that the 3,490-calorie formula prepared by the Indian Council of Medical Research be accepted as the basis for wage fixation. Employees’ unions claim that if the government really aims to improve the standard of living of its employees, it is imperative that they consider the basic needs of the employees while fixing the minimum wage, and food and nutrition are at the top of these needs. What exactly is type? What is half of this formula? Let’s understand.

What is ICMR’s 3,490-calorie formula?

ICMR is the apex body of health research in the country, which periodically reviews the nutritional needs of the public. According to ICMR, an average working person needs approximately 3,490 calories of energy per day. These calories are considered essential not only to satisfy hunger, but also to maintain physical health, maintain performance and meet nutritional needs. Employees’ unions say that when the government fixes the minimum wage, the government should ensure that the worker is able to buy enough and nutritious food for his family. If the wages are so low that they cannot meet even the minimum needs of the family, then the original purpose of the wage hike is not achieved.

What is the relation between food plate and salary?

The question of what a dinner plate can have to do with salary may seem strange. But an examination of the history of pay commissions reveals that the minimum requirements of employees have always served as the basis for fixing ‘minimum wages’. These needs include food, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare, transportation and other essential expenses. Employees’ unions say that, in the current scenario, inflation has increased significantly compared to the past. As a result, reliance on outdated standards has made it impossible to accurately assess actual employee costs. It is precisely for this reason that modern nutritional standards set by the ICMR are now being sought to be included. The objective of this approach is to determine the monthly cost of food and nutrition that a family needs to live a healthy life and use the same amount as a basis for determining the minimum wage.

Why the demand for minimum wage of ₹69,000?

In a statement submitted to the government, the JCM has demanded that the minimum pay of central government employees be increased to approximately ₹69,000 per month. Employees unions claim that the current wage structure has lagged far behind the pace of rising inflation. They say that it is not only groceries and food items that have become expensive these days; While expenses related to children’s education, medical treatment, house rent, utility services, internet services, mobile phones and travel have also increased rapidly. Considering this situation, employees need more salary to live a dignified life.

Asha also focused on the ‘fitment factor’

‘Fitment factor’ has been a major focal point in discussions related to the 8th Pay Commission. Fitment factor is a specific multiplier, which is used to determine the amount of increase in an employee’s current basic pay. Although the government has not yet made any official announcement in this regard, the employee unions are strongly demanding such a fitment factor, which is expected to increase the minimum wage significantly. It is widely believed that if the government gives due consideration to the demands put forward by the employee unions, a big increase in the basic pay can be seen.

Why is this discussion so important for employees?

Government employees say that the cost of living has increased rapidly along with rising inflation. As a result, getting a nominal pay rise alone will not be enough. To keep pace with the changing times, they are demanding modernization of the salary fixation process itself. The demand to include the ICMR’s 3,490-calorie formula in this process has come from precisely this line of thought.

What is the role of the government?

For now though, whether it’s about the ICMR’s 3,490-calorie formula or the ₹69,000 minimum wage demand; The government has not yet given any official response. Various recommendations and demands related to the 8th Pay Commission are currently being discussed. Only after the commission submits its recommendations and the government approves them, the final decision will come out. Therefore, it would be premature at this stage to predict whether all the demands of the employees will eventually be accepted or not.