Friday 28 August 2015

Strike on 2nd Sep, 2015: Govt assured on Bonus enhancement, Wages formula and Union agreed to reconsider the proposed strike

Strike on 2nd Sep, 2015: Govt assured on Bonus enhancement, Wages formula and Union agreed to reconsider the proposed strike:

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
27-August-2015 21:05 IST


Inter Ministerial Committee Holds Wider Consultations with Trade Unions on Charter of Demands Appeals to Reconsider Proposed Call for Strike in View of Discussions

The Second meeting of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) continued discussion on 12 Demands Charter of Trade Unions for the second day here today in continuation of discussions held yesterday. The Committee comprises Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, MoS(IC) Labour and Employment, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, MOS(IC) Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Jitendra Singh, MoS DOPT, and Shri Piyush Goel, MoS (IC),Power. During the discussions Trade Unions expressed concern and asked for clarifications on their demands. Addressing their concerns and expectations, the Finance Minister explained policies on which the Government is working and assured that the Government is committed to welfare of labour. Underlining the importance of role of Trade Unions, Shri Jaitely assured the Central Trade Unions that all labour laws reforms will be done with due discussions and tripartite consultations.
In view of the discussions held in conducive and cordial atmosphere, the IMC appealed to Trade Unions to reconsider the proposed call for strike on 2nd September, 2015.The Trade Unions have agreed to consider the appeal.
In view of the suggestions given by Central Trade Unions in the meetings held on 19th July, 26th August and 27th August, 2015, the Government assured the following :
1. Appropriate legislation for making formula based minimum wages mandatory and applicable to all employees across the country.
2. For the purposes of bonus the wage eligibility limit and calculation ceiling would be appropriately revised. Earlier in 2006-07 the calculation ceiling was decided at Rs.3500/- and eligibility limit was wage of Rs.10,000/- per month which is proposed to be revised to Rs.7,000 and Rs.21,000 respectively.
3. The Government is expanding the coverage of social security and working out ways to include construction workers, Aanganwari workers ,ASHA workers and Mid Day Meal workers.
4. Regarding contract workers the Government assured that they will be guaranteed minimum wages. Moreover, the Government is working out ways so that workers of industries will get sector specific minimum wages.
5. Government has already enhanced minimum pension for EPFO members and every pensioner gets minimum pension of Rs.1000/- per month perpetually.
6. Labour laws reforms will be based on tripartite consultations as already stated by the Prime Minister. The States are also being advised to follow the tripartite process.
7. For strict adherence to labour law enforcement, advisory has been issued to the State/UT Governments and strict monitoring has been initiated by Central Government.
8. For employment generation Mudra Yojana, Make in India, Skill India and National Career Service Portal initiatives have been taken.
9. Abolition of interviews for all primary jobs which do not require any special knowledge/expertise, is being done for transparency and expediting the process of recruitment.
10. Inflation is lowest in the last many years excepting two items onion and pulses. Government is taking necessary steps to contain the higher prices of these two commodities also.
It was further clarified that there is no ban on filling up of vacancies in Government jobs and all concerned Departments are taking necessary action to fill-up these vacancies. It was further assured that the Government is committed to job security, wages security and social security to the workers. The issue of equal wages for equal work for contract workers is an issue requiring wider consultations and a committee will be constituted, if required.


Source : http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=126401

Thursday 27 August 2015

EDITORIAL OF GDS CRUSADER

BOTH MODI GOVT AND RECOGNISED GDS UNION CHEATED THREE LAKHS GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS
            Seventh Pay Commission was appointed by Central Govt in the month of February 2014. Seventeen months are over and Chairman 7th CPC has told that he will submit the report to Govt by the end of August or September 2015. JCM Staff-side Organizations, NEPE, FNPO, AIPEU-GDS(NFPE) and NUGDS raised the demand for inclusion of GDS under the purview of 7th CPC. Postal Board referred the case twice to the Finance Ministry for approval, but rejected. Postal Joint Council of Action served indefinite strike notice from 2015 May 6th. Minister, Communications, called the PJCA leaders for discussion on 5th May and assured that the proposal for inclusion of GDS under 7th CPC will be once again (third time) sent to Finance Ministry and he will personally intervene to get it approved by Govt. Based on the assurance of the Minister, the strike was deferred. Now, it is reported that Finance Ministry has again rejected the proposal and Postal Board is going ahead with the proposal to appoint a one-man committee headed by a retired Postal Board officer.
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            Meanwhile, the recognised GDS union of Mahadevaiah has signed an agreement with the Postal Board agreeing for appointment of a seperate committee for GDS. Thus Mahadevaiah has signed the death warrant of three lakhs GDS. As the recognised  GDS  union has agreed for seperate committee, now it has become easy for the Govt to appoint a one-man committee. Mahadevaiah is responsible for appointment of separate GDS committee.
            NFPE and AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) are totally opposing the separate one-man committee. We want GDS to be included in 7th CPC itself. In 1977 itself Supreme has ruled that gds are civil servants. 4th central pc headed byCourt Pay Commission headed by the retired supreme Court Justice has also categorically stated that GDS are civil servants. Justice Charanjith Talwar Committee also made it clear in its report that GDS are holders of civil posts and are civil servants under Article 309 of the constitution. Then why Mahadevaiah’s recognised GDS union is joining hands with the Govt to cheat the GDS. Mahadevaiah has written to Govt that Postal Federations (NFPE & FNPO) should not be permitted to take up the GDS issues with the Govt and claims that he is the sole authority for GDS. Mahadevaiah’s recognised GDS union has miserably failed and is playing drama with the Govt to cheat the GDS.
            The NDA Govt led by BJP has also cheated the Gramin Dak Sevaks. Inspite of our repeated demand Narendra Modi Govt is not ready to include the GDS under 7th CPC. We have no other go, but to fight out this gross injustice. We have requested the leadership of the Postal Joint Council of Action to revive the deferred indefinite strike action. All India conference of AIPEU-GDS(NFPE) will be held at Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) on 19th and 20th September 2015. Leaders and delegates from all 22 Circles will be attending the AIC. We shall discuss the case in detail and will chalk out serious agitational programmes jointly with NFPE.
            When both the recognised GDS Union and the Govt has cheated the GDS, only AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) can fight for the cause of GDS. Let us further strengthen our union and move forward for a decisive battle for justice.

ENHANCEMENT IN CASH HANDLING LIMIT OF AUTHORIZED AGENTS OF SMALL SAVINGS SCHEME-REG (CLARIFICATION)

REVISION OF FIXED MONETARY COMPENSATION (FMC) TO DELIVERY STAFF AND REMUNERATION TO OTHER STAFF

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS 
D.G. Posts No. 10-7/2001-PE-II dated 14th August, 2015.
 I am directed to refer to Directorate letters of even number dated 04.09.2002, 20.01.2003 and 24.11.2010 on the above mentioned subject.
2.           The Department has revived a number of references from the staff Associations requesting for upward revision of Fixed Monetary Compensation (FMC) admissible to Postman Staff. A Committee of Senior Officers  was constituted for looking into the issue and the  report of the Committee has been examined  carefully in consultation with Integrated  Finance  Wing  and the Competent Authority has ordered enhancement of the  Fixed Monetary  Compensation (FMC) admissible  to Postmen staff. The details are as under:
S.L. No.
Item
Existing Rate
Revised Rate
(a)
When one Postman performs duty of an absentee Postman by combination of duties.
Rs.50 per day
Rs. 94 per day
(b)
When two Postmen perform duty of an absentee Postman by sharing the beat.
Rs.24 per day
Rs.47 per  day
3.           The Competent  Authority  has also ordered fixation / revision of Holiday/Sunday Monetary  Compensation payable to Postmen  Staff and other  Departmental Staff brought on duty on 2nd consecutive Holiday if three consecutive  holidays occur or duty performed on Sunday as shown under:
Cadre
Item
Existing Rate
Revised
Remarks
Postmen/Sorting Postmen
When duty performed on Holiday/Sunday
Rs.85
Rs.282/- per day for full day duty.
Nil
MTS
When duty performed on Holiday/Sunday
Rs.60
Rs.29/-per hour, subject to maximum of 3 hours
If duty performed above 3 hours, the employee is eligible to claim for 3 hours pay only.
Postal Assistant
When duty performed on Holiday/Sunday
Rs.85
Rs.41/-per hour, subject to maximum of 3 hours
Supervisor
When duty performed on Holiday/Sunday
Rs.85
Rs.47/-per hour, subject to maximum of 3 hours
4.           All other conditions for payment of Fixed Monetary Compensation (FMC) issued vide OM No. 10-23/87-PE-I dated 21.12.1993 and delivery of Unregistered letters on Holidays issued  under 9-25/92-C1 dated 10.09.92 will remain unchanged.
 5.          The expenditure on account of revision has to be met from the allocated funds of the units under the prescribed Head of Account.
  6.         These orders will take effect from the date of issue.
7.           This issues in consultation with the Integrated Finance Wing vide their diary number 118/FA/2015/CS dated 14.08.2015.
                                                                                                                              Sd/-
(Maj)S.N.Dave)

Assistant Director General (Estt.)

Monday 24 August 2015

Report of Seventh Pay commission might be submitted by second week of September 2015


The Hindi daily Dainik Baskar quoted in its report published on 22.8.2015 about report of Seventh pay commission that the pay commission report will be submitted by second week of September 2015,

According to its report the Seventh Pay Commission report to be submitted to the government will be examined by  the senior CoS, which will take two months. Then it will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance, which will be  implemented from 1st  January, 2016,
According to sources the fitment formula 2.86 would be recommended by 7th pay commission.
The report published in Hindi is given below…
7वें वेतनमान में दोगुना हो सकता है वेतन
सातवें वेतन आयोग की रिपोर्ट सरकार के सौंपे जाने के बाद वरिष्ठ सचिवों की समिति इसका परीक्षण करेगी, जिसमें दो महीने का समय लगेगा। इसके बाद इसे वित्त मंत्रालय को सौंपा जाएगा, जिसे वह अगले साल 1 जनवरी 2016 से लागू करने हरी झंडी देगा, इसे जस का तस मौजूदा वेतन का 2.86 गुना बढ़ाया जाने पर सरकार पर 1 लाख 28 हजार करोड़ रुपए का अतिरिक्त भार आएगा। इधर केंद्रीय अधिकारी कर्मचारियों के संगठन ने सरकार को चेतावनी भी दे दी है कि यदि सेंट्रल-पे- कमीशन (सीपीसी) की रिपोर्ट में ज्यादा कटौती होती है तो वे हड़ताल पर भी जाने का कदम उठा सकते हैं।
सातवें वेतन आयोग से केंद्र सरकार कर्मचारियों की तनख्वाह दोगुनी होने की संभावना है। आयोग की रिपोर्ट सितंबर के दूसरे सप्ताह में केंद्र सरकार को सौंपी जाना है। केंद्र सरकार के 55 लाख कर्मचारियों में से एक लाख मप्र में कार्यरत हैं। नया वेतनमान 1 जनवरी 2016 से लागू होना है। सूत्रों के अनुसार सातवें वेतन आयोग में ग्रेड-पे को खत्म किया जा रहा है, जिसके स्थान पर 15 नए स्केल बनाए जा रहे हैं। इन स्केल में वेतनमान रहेंगे और उस पर महंगाई भत्ता देय होगा। इसी के अनुसार अन्य सुविधाओं मकान भाड़ा और परिवहन भत्ता दिया जाएगा। फिलहाल लागू छठे वेतनमान में कर्मचारियों की 33 साल की सेवा पूरी होने के बाद रिटायरमेंट का फार्मूला लागू है। इसके पीछे कर्मचारियों को रिटायरमेंट पर साढ़े सोलह महीने के वेतन के बराबर ग्रेच्युटी का भुगतान किया जाना है। इस सेवा के बाद कर्मचारी पूरी पेंशन का हकदार होता है। इसे सातवें वेतनमान में भी लागू किया जाना प्रस्तावित है।
अभी सीपीसी की रिपोर्ट सरकार को सौंपी जाना है, उस पर वरिष्ठ सचिवों की समिति विचार करेगी। इसके बाद इसे अंतिम रूप दिया जाएगा। इसमें जो भी विसंगति होगी, उस पर चर्चा करेंगे। – केकेएन कुट्टी, अध्यक्ष, केंद्रीय कर्मचारी परिसंघ
यह है प्रस्तावित स्केल
छठे वेतनमान ग्रेड-पे पे- बैंड (मूल वेतन) सातवां वेतनमान ( प्रस्तावित)
पीबी-1 में 2400 से 2800 रुपए ग्रेड-पे 5200-8650 रुपए तक 21000- 46000 रुपए
पीबी-2 में 4200 से 5400 रुपए ग्रेड-पे 9300- 15600 रुपए तक 56000 – 78000 रुपए
पीबी-3 में 5400 से 7600 रुपए ग्रेड-पे 15600-21900 रुपए तक 88000- 1,20000 रुपए
पीबी-4 में 8900 से 10,000 रुपए ग्रेड-पे 37400-43000 रुपए तक 1,48000 -1,62000 रुपए
एचएजी 75500 से 80,000 रुपए तक 1,93000 रुपए
अपेक्स स्केल 80,000 रुपए फिक्स्ड 2 ,13000 रुपए
कैबिनेट सेक्रेटरी 90,000 रुपए फिक्स्ड 2,40000 रुपए
नोट : फिलहाल अधिकारी-कर्मचारियों को मूल वेतन, ग्रेड-पे पर 113 प्रतिशत डीए, एचआरए एवं ट्रांसपोर्ट अलाउंस मिल रहा है। इसके अलावा 6 प्रतिशत डीए जुलाई का बकाया है।
Source: Dainik Bhaskar

Seventh Pay Commission May Recommend Permanent Pay Panel

New Delhi: The Seventh Pay Commission is likely to recommend the government to form a permanent pay panel to give recommendations to the government from time to time on issues pertaining to pay structure of central government employees.
The four-member Seventh Central Pay Commission team headed by its Chairman Justice A K Mathur (second from right siting).
The four-member Seventh Central Pay Commission team headed by its Chairman Justice A K Mathur (second from right siting).
The permanent pay panel would recommend regular salary hikes in keeping with the rate of inflation.
The formation of the permanent pay panel would help raise the salaries and allowances of central government officials and employees, an official of the pay panel said.
He added the permanent pay panel would recommend salary and allowance hikes in keeping with the rising inflation rate, which will be implemented by the government. “Then it will not be necessary to form a new commission during the next several years for central government employees.”
However, the Seventh Pay Commission got one month extension to submit its recommendations.
Accordingly it is expected to submit its report by the end of September. The time allotted for the commission ends this month.
The government appointed the Seventh Pay Commission on 28 February 2014 under chairman, Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, with a time frame of 18 months to make its recommendations
“There are some data points that are missing, which we hope to get by this month end. We are trying to submit the report by 20 September,” the official of the pay panel also said.
The government’s salary bill will rise by 9.56% to Rs 1,00,619 crore with the implementation of the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, according to a statement tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on August 12.
The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, is likely to be implemented in April, next year.
Source: tkbsen.in

Thursday 20 August 2015

RBI grants in-principle nod for 11 payments banks



Payment banks allow mobile firms, supermarket chains, and others to cater to individuals and small businesses.


The Reserve Bank on Wednesday granted ‘in-principle’ approval to 11 entities, including Reliance Industries, Aditya Birla Nuvo, Vodafone and Airtel, to set up payments banks and proposed such licences ‘on tap’ in future.
The other entities which have been given ‘in-principle’ approval are Department of Posts, Cholamandalam Distribution Services, Tech Mahindra, National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), Fino PayTech, Sun Pharma’s Dilip Shantilal Shanghvi and PayTM’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
“The ‘in-principle’ approval granted will be valid for a period of 18 months, during which time the applicants have to comply with the requirements under the guidelines and fulfil the other conditions as may be stipulated by the Reserve Bank,” RBI said in a statement.
Going forward, RBI said the central bank would use the learning from this licensing round to appropriately revise the guidelines and move to give licences more regularly, virtually “on tap”.
Payment banks allow mobile firms, supermarket chains, and others to cater to individuals and small businesses.
The Payments Bank will be set up as a differentiated bank and shall confine its activities to acceptance of demand deposits, remittance services, Internet banking and other specified services.
Payments Banks will initially be restricted to holding a maximum balance of Rs. 1 lakh per individual customer.
They will be allowed to issue ATM/debit cards as also other prepaid payment instruments, but not the credit cards.
These banks can also distribute non-risk sharing simple financial products like mutual funds and insurance products.
They will not be allowed to undertake lending services and non resident Indians will not be allowed to open accounts.
RBI further said that on being satisfied that the 11 applicants have complied with the requisite conditions as part of ‘in-principle’ approval, it would consider granting to them a licence for commencement of banking business.
Until a regular licence is issued, the applicants can not undertake any banking business, the central bank added.
Draft guidelines for licencing of payments banks were released for public comments and the final guidelines were issued on November 27, 2014.
A total of 41 applicants had applied for payments banks.
Differentiated banking entails going beyond the current universal banking framework to serve specific purposes.
The move to allow such differentiated banks came after RBI had found just two entities — infra player IDFC and micro-lender Bandhan from among over two dozen applicants — eligible for setting up commercial banks.
The central bank issued this limited set of licences on April 1, 2014, after a decade. Both applicants are yet to begin operations even after a year as they have time till October.
Commercial banks comprise 27 public sector banks, 20 private, 44 foreign, 4 local area banks and 56 regional rural banks.
On the selection process, RBI said a detailed scrutiny was undertaken by an External Advisory Committee (EAC) under the chairmanship of Nachiket Mor, Director, Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India.
The recommendations of the EAC were an input to an Internal Screening Committee (ISC), consisting of the Governor and four Deputy Governors.