No plan to launch housing scheme for EPFO members: Government

No plan to launch housing scheme for EPFO members: Government

 New Delhi, Nov 26:

Retirement fund body EPFO has no plans to launch a housing scheme for its over five crore subscribers on additional contribution by its members, Parliament was informed today.

“No Sir,” Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on a question whether Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has chalked out a scheme for providing housing to its subscribers on additional contribution.

The idea to provide housing by EPFO on additional contribution 10 per cent of subscribers’ basic wages was mooted earlier this year by Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes during a function of the body in January.


Addressing the gathering, Fernandes who was also heading the EPFO trustee’s board had said, “EPFO can deduct extra 10 per cent of their basic wages over the mandatory contribution of 12 per cent made by them at present. The money can be used to provide them housing facility.”

The Minister had also said, “Most of the workers throughout their working life live in rented accommodation and their entire saving on retirement is spent on purchasing a house.”

At present, all workers covered under the EPFO schemes, pay 12 per cent of their basic wages toward PF contribution every month. The basic wages include basic pay and dearness allowance.

Read more at Hindu Businessline

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MACP on Promotial Hierarchy - Organisational/Financial support to defend the SLP

MACP on Promotial Hierarchy - Organisational/Financial support to defend the SLP

MACP ON PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY- ORGANISATIONAL/ FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO DEFEND THE SLP-REGARDING

The extended meeting of the Steering Committee of MACP on Promotional Hierarchy held on 15/11/2014 has decided to write letters to all Gazetted Non Gazetted Employees’ Federations/Associations of all Ministries, seeking organizational/financial support in defence of the SLP against granting of MACP on promotional hierarchy, filed by the Central Government.

But we could not reach several of the Staff Associations/Federations, face MACP problems due to non availability of proper contact address/e-mail id/telephone number.

A letter inviting all Officers/Staff Associations who are not in contact of this steering committee is given below: All Federations/Associations are requested to send their contact address/telephone number/e-mail id etc immediately so that their name may also be incorporated in the list of steering committee. All Associations/readers are requested to co-operate.

-TKR Pillai
Convener
Mob No. 09425372172
e-mail: aiams08@gmail.com


STEERING COMMITTEE-
MACP ON PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY
C/o All India CPWD Engineers Association,
Room No. B-003, Indra Prastha Bhawan,
ITO, New Delhi, dated 23/11/2014
e-mail: pillai_tkr@rediffmail.com,aiams08@gmail.com

To,

            The President/General Secretary,
            All India Officers/Staff Associations affected with MACP

    Sub:    Defeating the illogical and anti employee MACP scheme in the Supreme Court- seeking co operation of the all Federations/Associations-regarding.


Dear sir,

You are aware that various benches of the Central Administrative Tribunals and High courts pronounced verdicts in favour of financial upgradation under MACP Scheme on Promotional hierarchy on the petitions of Central Government Employees in various Departments. In the Principle Bench of CAT itself, more than half dozen cases have been decided in favour of granting financial upgradation under MACP Scheme on promotional hierarchy. But the Government of India has not implemented these orders citing one or other reasons. Moreover, Government has filed 4 SLPs against these verdicts in respect of the applicants, namely, Shri V Mohanan Nair of CAT Ernakulam, Shri Babu Ram, Smt Reeta Devi and Shri Dhirender Singh of CAT Chandigarh, at Supreme Court. Since the outcome of the SLP filed will affect all Central Government Employees, a steering committee consisting of representatives of Gazetted/Non Gazetted Staff of various Departments of Government of India was constituted on 25/09/2014. Thereafter two meetings of the steering committee were held on 27th September and 2nd October 2014 in which decision for intervening in the SLP filed in the Supreme Court was taken.

In order to expand the activities of the steering committee, an extended meeting of the committee was convened at Indra Prastha Bhawan, New Delhi on 15/11/2014 in which 55 persons representing 30 Associations of various Ministries participated. Moreover, around 10 Associations whose representatives who had not participated in the meeting have assured to abide the decision taken in the meeting, copy of the minutes is posted elsewhere in this web site.

While addressing the meeting Shri SK Vyas, Advisor, Confederation has suggested that MACP is a matter covering all Central Government Employees and as such it will be better if National JCM (Staff side)becomes an intervener of the case and the meeting has accepted the suggestion. Shri Vyas has further suggested that all the Unions/Associations including Unions in the Railways, Defense, Postal and Income tax, Audit & Accounts Association should be asked to give contribution to meet the legal and other expenses of the case. Accordingly, the meeting decided to send letters to all major Federations/Associations as well the Secretary JCM (Staff Side).

According to Supreme Court web site posting, the SLP of Shri Mohanan Nair is listed for hearing on 08th January 2015 and all the other three SLPs have been connected with this case. The extended meeting of the steering committee unanimously decided to engage lawyers to intervene in the SLP.The committee has decided to collect Rs. 15 lakhs to meet the immediate expenses in connection with intervention in the case etc. It was also decided to prepare a list of Federations/Associations from whom the contribution has to be collected.

In view of the above, this steering committee seeks your support both organizationally and financially to strengthen the united efforts to get a favourable verdict from the Supreme Court through legal means.

I, on behalf of the Steering Committee, request you to kindly extend your helping hand so that we may be able to defeat the illogical and anti employee MACP scheme in Supreme Court.
Please send a two line letter in confirmation of receipt of this letter.

Yours Sincerely

(TKR Pillai)
Convener
Mob: 09425372172

Source: http://aiamshq.blogspot.in/2014/11/macp-on-promotional-hierarchy-financial.html

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Central government employees to file assets details by December 31

Central government employees to file assets details by December 31

New Delhi: All central government employees have to file the details of their assets and liabilities along with that of their spouses and dependent children as mandated under the Lokpal Act by December 31, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

As per the rules notified under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act in July this year, every public servant who has filed declarations, information and annual returns of property under the provisions of the rules applicable to such public servants shall file the revised declarations as on August 1 to the competent authority on or before September 15.

The provision of the said rules has subsequently been amended by which the time limit for furnishing of such information or return by public servants has been extended till December 31, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said in a written reply.

The declarations under the Lokpal Act are in addition to similar ones filed by the employees under various services rules.

All Group A, B and C employees are supposed to file a declaration under the new rules. There are about 26 lakh employees in these three categories, as per latest government data.

The Personnel Ministry has also issued new forms for filing these returns which have fields for mentioning details of cash in hand, bank deposits, investment in bonds, debentures, shares and units in companies or mutual funds, insurance policies, provident fund, personal loans and advance given to any person or entity, among others.

The employees need to declare motor vehicles, aircraft, yachts or ships, gold and silver jewellery and bullion possessed by them, their spouses and dependent children.

PTI

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Salient Features of each of the Scheme under Shramev Jayate Programme: Lok Sabha Q&A

Salient Features of each of the Scheme under Shramev Jayate Programme: Lok Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 178
ANSWERED ON 24.11.2014

SHRAMEV JAYATE PROGRAMME

178 . Scindia Shri Jyotiraditya Madhavrao, Galla Shri Jayadev
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-
(a)whether the Government has recently launched a number of schemes under Shramev Jayate Programme;
(b)if so, the details thereof along with the salient features of each of the schemes under the programme;
(c)the reaction of the labour trade unions to such schemes/programmes;
(d)whether the said initiative includes any scheme for skilled labour; and
(e)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b): The details of the schemes launched and their salient features are as per Annexure.
(c): No such reaction has been received.
(d) & (e): Apprentice Protsahan Yojana and Recognition of Prior Learning for Construction Workers aim at preparing skilled work force and upskilling the existing workforce. Details are given in Annexure.

Annexure

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Shramev Jayate Karyakram

SHRAM SUVIDHA PORTAL IN CENTRAL SPHERE FOR EASE OF COMPLIANCE AND SELF-CERTIFICATION

To create a conducive environment for industrial development

To be operative in 4 central organizations : Chief Labour Commissioner, Directorate General of Mines Safety, Employee Provident Fund Organization and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation

Allotment of Unique Labour Identification Number (LIN) to 6-7 lakh Units
Online registration of Units

Filing of self-certified and simplified Single Online Return by the industry for 16 labour laws
Timely redressal of grievances through the portal

Complete database at one place to add to informed policy process

TRANSPARENT LABOUR INSPECTION SCHEME IN CENTRAL SPHERE FOR RANDOM SELECTION OF UNITS FOR INSPECTION

A computerized list of inspections to be generated randomly based on pre-determined objective criteria
Serious matters to be covered under the mandatory inspection list

Complaints based inspections to be determined centrally after examination based on data and evidence
Mandatory uploading of Inspection Reports within 72 hours

Check on the arbitrariness in compliance mechanism

PORTABILITY THROUGH UNIVERSAL ACCOUNT NUMBER (UAN) FOR EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND

Digitization of complete database of more than 4 crore EPF subsribers and allotment of UAN to each of them
UAN is being seeded with Bank account and Aadhar Card and other KYC details for financial inclusion
Portability of the Social Security Benefits through UAN to the labour of organized sector across jobs and geographic areas
EPF account of employee to be updated monthly and at the same time he will be informed though SMS
Direct access to their EPF accounts and will also enable them to consolidate all their previous accounts

EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF REVAMPED REASHTIYA SWASTHYA SIMA YOJNA (RSBY) FOR THE LABOUR IN UNORGANIZED SECTOR

93% of workers in unorganized sector RSBY revamped to ensure enhanced quality and access to services
Strengthened grievance redressal mechanism

Improved IT architecture for better access of services and monitoring of outcomes for beneficiaries
Linking the enrollment for the RSBY scheme with opening/seeding of Bank Account and allotment/seeding of Aadhar Card for financial inclusion

Wellness check for preventive care introduced for the first time

Constructive workers and beneficiary across different welfare cess are covered

Introduction of convergence of social security schemes namely Aam Admi Bima Yojna and National Old Age Pension Scheme on RSBY smart card through improved IT framework

APPRENTICE PROTSAHAN YOJANA

A vision to have more than 20 lakh apprentice in next few years against present number of 2.9 lakh

A major initiative to revamp the Apprenticeship Scheme in India after extensive consultation with industry and states

Four components of this initiative are:

Making the legal framework friendly to both, industry and youth. The necessary Bill amending the The Apprentices Act, 1961 was placed and passed in Lok Sabha on 14.8.2014

Enhancing the rate of stipend and indexing it to minimum wages of semi skilled workers. Notification issued
Apprentice Protsahan Yojana to support mainly manufacturing units and other establishments by reimbursing 50% of the stipend paid to apprentices during first two years of their training

Basic training curricula being restructured on scientific principles to make it more effective, and MSMEs to be supported financially by permitting this component in government funded SDI scheme

The Apprentice Protsahan Yojana will support one lakh apprentices during the period up to March 2017

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)

Construction sector is third biggest employer after agriculture and manufacturing. Contributes more than 10% of the jobs in India

It employs about 4.2 crore workers and contributes 6.67% of GDP

86% of workers have no skills and productivity level is low

A national Scheme “Recognition of Prior Learning of Construction Workers” being launched by Ministry of Labour & Employment after extensive consultation with industry by utilizing the cess funds collected from construction projects

Construction sites to be designated as Testing Centres

Skill gaps if any, to be made up by giving gap training of about 15 days

Wage compensation for attending training classes and assessment

NCVT certification

TRAINING ON MODERN CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES WITH CERTIFICATION BY NCVT IN CONSULTATION WITH CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES

With the initiatives like 100 smart cities. Housing for all by 2011, construction sector is set to grow at rapid rate

It is estimated that about 8.3 crores persons would be employed in the sector by year 2022
New projects demand workforce trained in modern construction technologies to meet the international norms in construction

Several new courses introduced
 

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTRES FOR HANDICAPPED
According to Census 2011, there were 2.68 crore Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) out of which 1.7 crore are unemployed
Vocational rehabilitation support to PwDs through 21 Vocational Rehabilitation Centres for Handicapped (VRCs) across the country
Focus on honing the strength of individual PwDs to make them employable through capacity building and last mile orientation
Knowledge Partnership MOU between MoLW and TATA SONS to incorporate best practices and policy interventions for enhancing diversity and inclusiveness in India’s workforce
Major efforts are on for widening and deepening association with industry in order to increase the impact and enlarge footprint of VRCs. Some of the institutions that have partnered with VRCs include National Handicap Finance Development Corporation, National Trust, PSUs like ONGC, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Yum Foods, Bank of America, Sarthak, etc
Some of these centres are also being developed as Model Career Centres for PwDs
 
NATIONAL BRAND AMBASSADORS OF VACATIONAL TRAINNING
Only 10% of our workforce has got formal or informal technical training. Only one fourth of this is formally trained
In South Korea, Japan, Germany, the percentage of workforce having received skills training is 96,80 and 75 respectively
We need to rapidly expand certificate level vocational training if we have to succeed in our mission of ‘Make in India’. Also we need to attract youth to vocational training
Vocational training has given excellent technicians, mechanics, entrepreneurs and professional leaders. Manufacturing sector is reservoir of this success
We are showcasing and felicitating such successful ITI graduates as National Brand Ambassadors of Vocational Training

FLEXI MOU
Presently, a total of 123 NCVT courses designed and developed by Mentor Councils having representation from industry, academia, Champion ITI and DGE&T mentors and expert courses/trade are conducted at about 11, 500 it is New policy of Flexi MOU has been launched in July 2014 to ensure that, in addition, customized courses with NCVT certification are available to meet the need of local industry
Under this MoU, any industry can conduct NCVT certified training programme in partnership with ITI or other vocational training provider to meet specific skill requirement of the company
Industry to ensure minimum 80% employment

Several leading industry players such as Flipkart, Raymonds, Labournet, GIPCL, Cadilla have signed MOUs and many other are under finalization

SKILL AWARDEES

The Ministry of labour conducts competitions to foster the healthy spirit of competitiveness among the trainee Craftsmen/Apprentices

All India Skill Competition for Craftsmen among trainees admitted under Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS), is conducted once in a year

All India Competition for Apprentices among trainees admitted under Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS) is conducted twice every year

First ever initiative to recognize the awardees at National Level and release of first ever souvenir containing the list of winners of different segments in latest All India Competition for Craftsmen, held in January, 2014 and All India Competition for Apprentices held in May, 2014


Source: loksabha.nic.in
Annexure:http://164.100.47.132/Annexture_New/lsq16/3/au178.htm

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SCOVA meeting with Standing Groups including National Council (Staff Side) JCM

Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) meeting with Standing Groups including National Council (Staff Side) JCM will be scheduled to be held in the January, 2015.

F. No. 42/39/2014-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003
Date: 24th Nov, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : 26th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) scheduled to be held in the month of January, 2015 under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble MOS (PP).

The 26th meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare is scheduled to be held in the January, 2015. The details of the date, time and venue of the meeting will follow. The meeting will be chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Pubic Grievances & Pensions.

2. All the Pensioners Associations under SCOVA are requested to kindly provide the following requisite information through fax as well as E-mail :

(a) Suggest fresh items/issues, if any, for inclusion in the agenda to be discussed for the proposed meeting. Kindly do not send those agenda items which have already been discussed in the previous SCOVA meetings and on which final decision/action has already been taken. Your response in this regard may please be sent to this Department so as to reach the undersigned latest by 10th December, 2014 to enable us to finalize the agenda items. Minutes of the meetings and Action Taken Reports of the previous SCOVA meetings are available on the website of this Department – www.pensionersportal.gov.in

(b) Because of the consideration of space, only one representative of your organization may attend the above said meeting. Confirmation of participation and the name of the participant may kindly be intimated in advance to the undersigned by fax/e-mail.

3. Outstation members will be paid TA/DA and local members will be paid conveyance charges in accordance with the rules/instructions.

4. This Department looks forward to your participation in the meeting.

sd/-

(Charanjit Taneja)
Under Secretary

Source: http://pensionersportal.gov.in/

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One Rank-One Pension (OROP) formula has since been implemented or not..? Question raised today in Parliament

One Rank-One Pension (OROP) formula has since been implemented or not..? Question raised today in Parliament

Whether Government’s decision to grant pension to the retired personnel of the Defence Forces as per “One Rank-One Pension (OROP)” formula has since been implemented

If not, the reasons for the delay; and

By when this scheme is likely to be implemented? these questions asked by the Hon’ble Member Shri Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa in Parliament today and the Minister of Defence Shri Manohar Parrikar replied as follows…

“The principle of One Rank One Pension for the Armed Forces has been accepted by the Government. The modalities for implementation were discussed with various stakeholders and are presently under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government”.

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SWACHH BHARAT KOSH OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

Finance Ministry issued operational guidelines for the scheme of Swachh Bharat, these rules are into force with immediate effect…

SWACHH BHARAT KOSH OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
 

1. Short Title and Commencement: 

These will be called Swachh Bharat Kosh Operational Guidelines, 2014 and will come into force with immediate effect.

2. Objective of Setting-up the Fund (Kosh):
Individuals and philanthropists have expressed interest in contributing to efforts to achieve the objective of Clean India (Swachh Bharat) by the year 2019. The Swachh Bharat Kosh has been set up to facilitate channelization of philanthropic contributions and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds towards this cause.

3. Governing Council:
The Swachh Bharat Kosh (henceforth called Kosh) would be administered by a Governing Council chaired by Secretary, Department of Expenditure. Other Permanent members will be Secretary (Planning), Secretary (Drinking Water and Sanitation), Secretary (Urban Development), Secretary (Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation), Secretary (Rural Development), Secretary (Panchayati Raj) and Secretary (School Education and Literacy). Departmental Secretaries from Tourism, Culture or any other department would be invited as and when their  proposals are being deliberated.

4. Secretariat:
The Governing Council would be assisted by a division to be set up in the     Department of Expenditure, which will serve as its secretariat, headed by an
Administrator, at the Joint Secretary level.

5. Bank Account & Receipt of Contribution:
 

a) Contributions from companies and philanthropists shall be received in a single bank account opened in the State Bank of India, Central Secretariat Branch, North Block, New Delhi. The bank account will be operated jointly by the Administrator and the Chief Controller of Accounts, Ministry of Finance.
 

b) Donations into the Kosh may be made through online payments through net banking, or by debit and credit cards or Cheque/Demand Draft.
 

c) The donor would receive an automated, digitally signed receipt of the contributions. Besides, the following mode of acknowledgement with regard to receipt of donations will be adopted:

http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/swachhbharat/SWK_Operational_Guidelines2014.pdf

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CGHS Hospitals under surveillance by the aegis of CGHS Officer to check irregularities including exploitation of patients

CGHS Hospitals under surveillance by the aegis of CGHS Officer to check irregularities including exploitation of patients

While replying to a question in Parliament today, Minster of Health & Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda said that to ensure that the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Agreement are followed scrupulously by the empanelled hospitals, a monitoring cell under the aegis of a senior officer of CGHS has been established to check irregularities including exploitation of patients”,

Treatment by CGHS empanelled hospitals in emergency cases

Recently, the Government has amended the terms and conditions for empanelment of private hospital under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). Now, the hospitals are empanelled as a whole, meaning that all facilities available in the hospital would be provided to CGHS beneficiaries. Disease – specific empanelment has now been stopped.

To ensure that the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Agreement are followed scrupulously by the empanelled hospitals, a monitoring cell under the aegis of a senior officer of CGHS has been established to check irregularities including exploitation of patients. There are provisions in the MoA including issue of Show Cause Notice, issue of warning, recovery of amount charged illegally from the beneficiaries, also confiscation of part or whole of PBG (Performance Bank Guarantee), and ultimately removal from the CGHS list, that can be resorted to in appropriate cases

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Amendment to Minimum Wages Act: Govt. statement in Lok Sabha

Amendment to Minimum Wages Act: Govt. statement in Lok Sabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO 6
ANSWERED ON 24.11.2014

    AMENDMENT TO MINIMUM WAGES ACT

6 . Sampath Shri AnirudhanWill the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-

(a)whether suggestions have been received from various quarters to amend the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and if so, the details thereof;

(b)whether the amendment proposes to cover all the employment sectors and increase penal provisions; and

(c)if so, the details thereof ?
ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 6 FOR 24.11.2014 BY DR. A. SAMPATH REGARDING “AMENDMENT TO MINIMUM WAGES ACT”.

(a) to (c): Yes, Madam. Major Central Trade Unions had raised demands to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs.10,000/- linked with cost price index on 04.09.2012. Further, the demand to fix minimum wages not less than Rs.15,000/- per month was placed before the Government by these trade unions on 06.06.2014 and 24.06.2014.

Proposals for amendment to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 were put on the website of the Ministry of Labour and Employment on 17.06.2014 for public consultation. The proposals inter-alia include universal coverage to all the employments by removing the restriction of 1000 or more workers for an employment to come within the purview of Minimum Wages Act, making National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) statutory and enhancement of penal provisions by increasing the fine prescribed for contravention of certain provision of the Act from Rs.500/- to Rs.5,000/- on first conviction and with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine of not less than Rs.5,000/- extending up to Rs.10,000/- in the case of second or subsequent conviction under the Act.

Source: Lok Sabha.nic.in

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Coverage under Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)

Coverage under Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): Lok Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 154
ANSWERED ON   24.11.2014

    COVERAGE UNDER EPFO

154 . Mahadik Shri Dhananjay Bhimrao, Gavit Dr. Heena Vijaykumar
Patil Shri Vijaysinh Mohite, Satav Shri Rajeev Shankarrao, Sule Smt. Supriya Sadanand

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-

(a)whether a large number of workers from the construction sector as well as contract employees are not covered under the Employees` Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO);



(b)if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c)whether workers from these sectors were unable to retrieve their savings with EPFO due to frequent job changes; and if so, the quantum of amount lying with EPFO as inoperative;

(d)whether the EPFO has constituted any committee to bring in more workers including workers from these sectors and if so, whether the committee has submitted its reports; and

(e)if so, the action taken thereon along with various other steps taken by the Government for the benefit of workers under EPFO?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b): The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 is applicable to 187 categories of industries and classes of establishments where 20 or more persons are working. Government has notified a Schedule Head - “Building & Construction Industry” vide GSR No. 1069 dated 11.10.1980.

There is no distinction between regular and contract workers under the Act. The workers whether regular or contractual working in the covered establishments are enrolled as EPF members.

(c): There are instances came to the notice of EPFO where the workers of these sectors face difficulties while retrieving their savings with EPFO due to frequent job changes. As per the unaudited Annual Account of the Organization for the year 2013-14, Rs. 27,448.54 Crore is lying in Inoperative Account.

(d) & (e): The Central Board of Trustees, EPF decided in their 204th meeting held on 26.08.2014 to constitute two non-statutory Sub-Committees, one for Construction Workers and the other for the Contract Workers with the terms of reference that these sub-committees will suggest mechanism to the Central Board so that coverage of both construction and contract workers can be increased. These sub-committees were constituted on 15.10.2014. The sub-committees met separately on 31.10.2014 and made some recommendations which are to be placed before the next meeting of the Central Board for consideration. Besides, EPFO have taken the following steps for benefits of workers:-

i. The process of allotting Universal Account Number has already started which will result in portability of the accounts.

ii. For transfer of accumulations on job/location change, provision for online transfer of accumulations has been put in place.

iii. Provision has been made in the Official website which will help the members to access their PF accounts online.

Source: Lok Sabha

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Employees Pension Scheme: Details of subscribers and amount distributed

Employees Pension Scheme: Details of subscribers and amount distributed

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 139
ANSWERED ON 24.11.2014

SUBSCRIBERS UNDER EPS

139 . Antony Shri Anto

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has any record regarding the number of subscribers under the Employees` Pension Scheme (EPS) in the country;
(b)if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and
(c)the details of the amount distributed under EPS during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The State/UT-wise details of membership of Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 are at Annex-I.
(c): The State/UT-wise details of amount distributed under Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 during the last three years and current year (upto June, 2014) are at Annex–II.

 

ANNEX-I

No. of Subscribers under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995

STATE/UT	Subscribers as on 31.3.2014
Andhra Pradesh( including Telangana)	10657225
Bihar	356826
Chhattisgarh	589276
Delhi	11350265
Goa	1168601
Gujarat (including Daman & Diu)	7481829
Haryana	6195965
Himachal Pradesh	1012158
Jharkhand	942549
Karnataka	14907011
Kerala (including Lakshadweep)	2110682
Madhya Pradesh	2913492
Maharashtra	23468307
North East Region	427558
Odisha	2191814
Punjab (including Chandigarh)	5135813
Rajasthan	1178766
Tamil Nadu (including Puducherry)	16622517
Uttar Pradesh	1917405
Uttrakhand	1117299
West Bengal(including Andaman & Nicobar Islands)	4483143
TOTAL	116228501

ANNEX-II

 

Details of amount disbursed under Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 during the last three years and current year (up to June, 2014)

(Rs. in Crores)

 

STATE/UT	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15 Upto June 2014  (Provisional)
Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana)	651.96	747.80	880.70	176.66
Bihar	102.99	162.08	201.49	32.09
Chhattisgarh	90.37	96.07	118.22	7.39
Delhi	420.16	475.94	528.98	139.53
Goa	33.85	36.89	47.80	5.82
Gujarat (including Daman & Diu)	488.95	550.39	660.71	114.15
Haryana	275.80	358.21	422.24	84.34
Himachal Pradesh	47.92	56.97	72.62	14.90
Jharkhand	188.86	162.64	184.12	41.13
Karnataka	815.20	934.00	1121.52	275.53
Kerala (including Lakshadweep)	334.88	365.38	424.00	111.21
Madhya Pradesh	200.06	222.75	259.13	64.33
Maharashtra	1529.71	1966.83	2214.95	435.20
North East Region	63.36	69.10	78.65	10.99
Odisha	126.13	147.93	194.72	44.70
Punjab (including Chandigarh)	229.65	253.17	313.19	65.27
Rajasthan	176.27	201.95	237.62	57.33
Tamil Nadu (including Puducherry)	841.09	1032.76	1552.27	275.37
Uttar Pradesh	496.21	561.10	636.46	62.95
Uttrakhand	68.68	84.81	108.18	29.39
West Bengal (including Andaman & Nicobar Islands)	457.41	551.77	642.75	93.57
TOTAL	7639.51	9038.54	10900.32	2140.83

Source: Loksabha.nic.in

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Air India LTC Fares w.e.f. 3rd November 2014: Indian Government News

Air India LTC Fares w.e.f. 3rd November 2014

TABLE V- LTC Fares

S No	SECTOR & V.V		HLTC        (Economy Class)	DLTC        (Executive  Class)	Airline Fuel Charge
			Base Fare	Base Fare
1	Agartala	Guwahati	4831	10140	1850
2	Agartala	Kolkata	3891	8506	1850
3	Agartala	Silchar	4401		1850
4	Agatti	Bengaluru	10691		1850
5	Agatti	Chennai	10646		2150
6	Agatti	Kochi	8571		1850
7	Agatti	Kozhikode	7471		1850
8	Agra	Delhi	5681	15327	1850
9	Agra	Khajuraho	3891	8506	1850
10	Agra	Varanasi	4946	12951	1850
11	Agra	Mumbai	8571		2950
12	Ahmedabad	Chennai	7426	26186	2950
13	Ahmedabad	Delhi	6000	15502	2150
14	Ahmedabad	Hyderabad	7076	19532	2150
15	Ahmedabad	Mumbai	4351	13425	1850
16	Aizawl	Guwahati	5351		1850
17	Aizawl	Imphal	4466	7337	1850
18	Aizawl	Kolkata	4626	11108	1850
19	Allahabad	Delhi	6541		1850
20	Allahabad	Kanpur	4751		1850
21	Allahabad	Mumbai	9401		2950
22	Amritsar	Delhi	4366	12436	1850
23	Aurangabad	Delhi	8801	21747	2150
24	Aurangabad	Mumbai	4451	10133	1850
25	Bagdogra	Delhi	9716	21024	2950
26	Bagdogra	Guwahati	4536	8398	1850
27	Bagdogra	Kolkata	5436	13188	1850
28	Bengaluru	Chennai	4701	10691	1850
29	Bengaluru	Delhi	9901	28985	3650
30	Bengaluru	Goa	5151	13297	1850
31	Bengaluru	Hyderabad	5451	14823	1850
32	Bengaluru	Kochi	4501	10907	1850
33	Bengaluru	Kolkata	9701	30799	3650
34	Bengaluru	Mangalore	4936		1850
35	Bengaluru	Mumbai	6851	16356	2150
36	Bengaluru	Pune	6184	16506	1850
37	Bengaluru	Tirupati	5221		1850
38	Bengaluru	Trivandrum	5451	12473	1850
39	Bhopal	Delhi	4801	14856	1850
40	Bhopal	Indore	4281	8625	1850
41	Bhopal	Mumbai	5356	15560	1850
42	Bhubaneshwar	Chennai	8291	17520	2950
43	Bhubaneshwar	Delhi	9001	27424	2950
44	Bhubaneshwar	Kolkata	5406	11764	1850
45	Bhubaneshwar	Mumbai	9401	29518	2950
46	Bhubaneshwar	Port Blair	11216		2950
47	Bhuj	Mumbai	6541		1850
48	Chandigarh	Delhi	4301	10534	1850
49	Chandigarh	Mumbai	8836	26295	2950
50	Chennai	Coimbatore	4251	12166	1850
51	Chennai	Delhi	8456	28474	3650
52	Chennai	Goa	6311	16217	1850
53	Chennai	Hyderabad	4451	13732	1850
54	Chennai	Kochi	5251	14630	1850
55	Chennai	Kolkata	8566	27543	2950
56	Chennai	Madurai	4251	11801	1850
57	Chennai	Mumbai	8571	18623	2950
58	Chennai	Pune	7851	21017	2150
59	Chennai	Portblair	9411	24229	2950
60	Chennai	Trivandrum	5601	14637	1850
61	Chennai	Vishakhapatnam	4801	14673	1850
62	Coimbatore	Delhi	9751	32763	3650
63	Coimbatore	Kozhikode	4451	6739	1850
64	Coimbatore	Mumbai	8001	18331	2950
65	Dehradun	Delhi	5221	13980	1850
66	Dehli	Dharamsala	4821		1850
67	Delhi	Gaya	6851	19532	2150
68	Delhi	Goa	8821	25860	3650
69	Delhi	Guwahati	9811	24988	3650
70	Delhi	Gwalior	5051	9977	1850
71	Delhi	Hyderabad	8401	25748	2950
72	Delhi	Imphal	9081	27248	3650
73	Delhi	Indore	4851	15867	1850
74	Delhi	Jabalpur	6401		1850
75	Delhi	Jaipur	3551	8815	1850
76	Delhi	Jammu	4401	13181	1850
77	Delhi	Jodhpur	5706	14290	1850
78	Delhi	Kanpur	5701		1850
79	Delhi	Khajuraho	5651	15108	1850
80	Delhi	Kochi	12351	37731	3650
81	Delhi	Kolkata	9061	24251	2950
82	Delhi	Kozhikode	10051	32763	3650
83	Delhi	Kullu	6301		1850
84	Delhi	Leh	5501	15141	1850
85	Delhi	Lucknow	4821	12505	1850
86	Delhi	Ludhiana	4351		1850
87	Delhi	Mangalore	9901	29248	3650
88	Delhi	Mumbai	8951	22740	2950
89	Delhi	Pantnagar	4301		1850
90	Delhi	Nagpur	7171	17336	2150
91	Delhi	Pathankot	5101		1850
92	Delhi	Patna	7151	17265	2150
93	Delhi	Port Blair	21516		3650
94	Delhi	Pune	9401	28208	2950
95	Delhi	Raipur	7851	22112	2150
96	Delhi	Ranchi	8811	20732	2950
97	Delhi	Srinagar	6201	13370	1850
98	Delhi	Surat	9101	20819	2150
99	Delhi	Tirupati	9016	23756	3650
100	Delhi	Trivandrum	12156	37731	3650
101	Delhi	Udaipur	5786	15382	1850
102	Delhi	Vadodra	7051	19853	2150
103	Delhi	Varanasi	5681	15327	1850
104	Delhi	Vijayawada	8566	26202	2950
105	Delhi	Vishakhapatnam	10401	30218	2950
106	Dibrugarh	Dimapur	3251	5106	1850
107	Dibrugarh	Guwahati	4801		1850
108	Dibrugarh	Kolkata	7401	14776	2150
109	Dibrugarh	Lilabari	4051		1850
110	Dimapur	Guwahati	4701		1850
111	Dimapur	Imphal	4401		1850
112	Dimapur	Kolkata	6101	13822	1850
113	Dimapur	Shillong	4101		1850
114	Gaya	Kolkata	4501	11744	1850
115	Gaya	Varanasi	4851	9518	1850
116	Goa	Kochi	5001	15159	1850
117	Goa	Hyderabad	5251	13657	1850
118	Goa	Mumbai	5321	11232	1850
119	Goa	Pune	4536	8874	1850
120	Goa	Srinagar	12351	38431	3650
121	Guwahati	Imphal	4901	9498	1850
122	Guwahati	Jorhat	3736		1850
123	Guwahati	Kolkata	5076	11465	1850
124	Guwahati	Lilabari	5151		1850
125	Guwahati	Silchar	5251		1850
126	Guwahati	Tezpur	4436		1850
127	Gwalior	Mumbai	8401	19551	2150
128	Hyderabad	Kolkata	9696	24985	2950
129	Hyderabad	Mumbai	5251	14980	1850
130	Hyderabad	Pune	5231	14265	1850
131	Hyderabad	Tirupati	4656	12571	1850
132	Hyderabad	Varanasi	8811	21806	2950
133	Hyderabad	Vijayawada	5051	10655	1850
134	Hyderabad	Vishakhapatnam	4946	12951	1850
135	Imphal	Kolkata	4281	11680	1850
136	Imphal	Silchar	4601		1850
137	Indore	Mumbai	4481	12637	1850
138	Jaipur	Mumbai	7851	18794	2150
139	Jammu	Leh	4886	9069	1850
140	Jammu	Srinagar	4403	6998	1850
141	Jamnagar	Mumbai	5181	12400	1850
142	Jodhpur	Mumbai	7686	18670	2150
143	Jodhpur	Udaipur	4231	8724	1850
144	Jorhat	Kolkata	4976		1850
145	Jorhat	Tezpur	4136		1850
146	Kanpur	Kolkata	7401		2150
147	Khajuraho	Varanasi	4936	12681	1850
148	Kochi	Kozhikode	3501	7283	1850
149	Kochi	Madurai	4301		1850
150	Kochi	Mumbai	8401	21634	2950
151	Kochi	Trivandrum	4301	8326	1850
152	Kolkata	Kochi	10051		3650
153	Kolkata	Lilabari	7800		2150
154	Kolkata	Mumbai	8486	23558	3650
155	Kolkata	Patna	5706		1850
156	Kolkata	Port Blair	11071	26781	2950
157	Kolkata	Ranchi	4536		1850
158	Kolkata	Shillong	5481		1850
159	Kolkata	Silchar	5001	11085	1850
160	Kolkata	Tezpur	5151		1850
161	Kozhikode	Chennai	5151		1850
162	Kozhikode	Kolkata	8456		3650
163	Kozhikode	Mumbai	9100	16513	2150
164	Kozhikode	Trivandrum	4391		1850
165	Kullu	Pathankot	4001		1850
166	Leh	Srinagar	4603	8283	1850
167	Lilabari	Tezpur	3881		1850
168	Lucknow	Mumbai	8051	24985	2950
169	Lucknow	Varanasi	4626	9607	1850
170	Ludhiana	Pathankot	4201		1850
171	Madurai	Mumbai	7851	23657	2950
172	Mangalore	Mumbai	6086	15761	1850
173	Mumbai	Nagpur	5001	15159	1850
174	Mumbai	Raipur	9500	20692	2150
175	Mumbai	Rajkot	5281	12473	1850
176	Mumbai	Ranchi	9751	22813	2950
177	Mumbai	Srinagar	9016	23756	3650
178	Mumbai	Trivandrum	10201	23901	2950
179	Mumbai	Udaipur	4786	15407	1850
180	Mumbai	Varanasi	9696	24511	2950
181	Mumbai	Vishakhapatnam	9101	24872	2950
182	Patna	Ranchi	4603		1850
183	Raipur	Bhubaneshwar	4281	9977	1850
184	Raipur	Nagpur	5181	12660	1850
185	Raipur	Vishakhapatnam	4251	11606	1850
186	Shillong	Jorhat	4551		1850
187	Silchar	Tezpur	4101		1850
188	Vishakhapatnam	Bhubaneshwar	5321	10518	1850

TABLE  – VI                                           
Islanders Fares

Sector & v.v		One Way	Return	Airline Fuel Charge
		Fare Basis	Fare Basis
		UEIXZ	URTIXZ
Port Blair	Kolkata	5016	8632	2950
Port Blair	Chennai	4816	8272	2950

Note : Above fares are valid for sale in Port Blair  only against  Identity Card.

TABLE  VII                                          
Remarks & Notings

1 a) RBD ‘Z’ is Advance Purchase fare in Business Class. Fare Basis is ‘ZAP’ with minimum 3 days advance purchase restriction.
SAP90, SAP60, TAPP30 , T30PP, TRT30, TAP14,TRT14,T14PP, TAP7, TRT7, T7PP,TAP2,TRT2 & T2PP Fares Levels are Advance Purchase Fares which are available for sale upto 90 days, 60 days, 30 days, 14 days, 7 days & 2 days respectively in advance  before schedule  date of departure of the flight.
b) *Some flights/sectors may not have the Advance  Purchase restrictions and *Some Sectors  are non-operating
c) 10% discount  on Mobile Application upto 28th Feb’15.
d) Special  group fares (GV fare )available  on select sectors.

2 Flight Routing

D- Direct flight to destination.
V- Via  Flight to Destination with stop/stops without change of aircraft
Link – Connecting Flight to Destination with a change of aircraft at a transit point

3 Taxes, Fee & Charges
a) In addition to the above fares, Passenger Service fee, Airport Development Fee (wherever applicable) and Service Tax would apply. Passenger Service fee is Rs. 233 except (a) Ex Jammu,Srinagar Leh where it is 207 (b) ex Kochi it is 225/-& ( c ) ex Delhi ,Mumbai,Chennai , Guwahati, Hyderabad, Bengaluru & Kolkata Rs.147/-
b) (a) User Development Fee (IN) ex Jaipur Rs. 150, Amritsar Rs. 150, Trichy Rs. 150, Vishakapatnam Rs. 150, Udaipur Rs. 150, Ahmedabad Rs. 124, Mangalore Rs. 150, Varanasi Rs. 150, Kolkata Rs.450. Chennai Rs. 187 , Ex Guwahati: Rs.352(1st Apr 14- 31st Mar 15), Rs.374 (1st Apr 15- 31st Mar 16) (b) UDF from Delhi( from 1st Apr 13- 31st  Jan ’15) : Distance upto 500 Km- Rs 276/- more than 500 Km- Rs 551/-  ( c ) UDF to Delhi( from 1st Apr 13- 31Jan ‘ 15) : Distance upto 500 Km- Rs 233/- more than 500 Km- Rs 466/- (d) UDF from Mumbai (Travel from 1st Apr 13 to 31st  Jan ‘ 15) Rs 308/- Ex Bengaluru: Rs.385(1st Jul 14- 31st Mar 15), Rs.344 (1st Apr 15- 31st Mar 16) (e) Airport Development Fee ( YM ) ex Delhi & ex Mumbai Rs. 113
c) Service Tax as applicable would be additional.

4 Fare Rules:

Fee for Refund/revalidation/re-issuance is levied as detailed under:effective 27th Apr’13

	RBD	Re-Issuance /Re-validation/ Refund Fee	No-Show  Fee( within 1 hour of flight departure )
First Class	F	NIL (Till 1 hour before departure)	Rs.1053
Business  class	C, D &  J	NIL (Till 1 hour before departure)	Rs.1053
		Re-Issuance /Re-validation	No-Show  Fee/Refund Fee
	Z	Rs.1053(  Till 1 hour before departure)	Rs.1579
		Re-Issuance /Re-validation/ Refund Fee	No-Show  Fee( within 1 hour flight departure )
Premium  Economy  Class	P	NIL (Till 1 hour before departure)	Rs.1053
Economy  Class
Instant Purchase fares	Y,B & M	NIL (Till 1 hour before departure)	Rs.1053
Instant Purchase fares	H,K,Q,V,W,G,L & U	Rs.1053(  Till 1 hour before departure)	Non-Refundable
Instant & Apex Fares	E, S &  T	Rs.1579(  Till 1 hour before departure)	Non-Refundable

(Penalty amount inclusive of service tax.)

Note:
a). Above Charges are applicable per coupon.
In case of ‘non-refundable, Basic Fare and Airline Fuel Charge will be forfeited.
b).LTC Tickets: Change/Refund Fee will be as applicable for highest Business or Economy Class fare
c).Armed Forces and related discounts : Change/ Refund Fee applicable for highest economy class fare. All categories of Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces, General Reserve Engineering Forces, War Disables Officers, War Widows and Gallantry Award Tickets under RBD Y to H)

d)The refund rules applicable to Link Fares on all RBDs are as under:

(A) Originating point:
1. Tickets issued on fares under: RBDs U to K
a) Refund  – Permitted up to 1 hr before scheduled  departure  of the flight against  a Refund  Fee of – Rs. 1053 /- coupon.
b) Refund of No-show ticket: Non Refundable(Basic fare + Airline Fuel Charge)
2) Tickets  issued on fares under: RBDs S & T
(a) Refund – Permitted up to 1 hr before scheduled departure of the flight against a Refund Fee of - Rs.1579/- per coupon.
b) Refund of No-show ticket: Non Refundable(Basic fare + Airline Fuel Charge)

(B) Intermediate Point :
In case of completion of part itinerary,  a passenger  desirous  of claiming refund will be allowed to do so after deducting the applicable  fare on booked RBD, for the sector travelled  along with the applicable  Refund  Fee. Not permitted for RBDs S & T.

(C) In cases of Flight Disruptions:
(a) Alternate  arrangements are made by the Airline- No Refund
(b)Passenger is taken back to the point of origin by the first available  service- Full amount to be refunded.
(c)Own arrangement for the cancelled sector is made by the passenger(s): Refund of Basic fare of the cancelled sector in respective RBD (Airline Fuel Charge to be retained) along with unutilized non-airline taxes, if any.
e). No Re-validation or Cancellation Fee applicable on Infant Tickets.

5 Applicable Fares as on 3rd Nov ‘ 14

6 These fares are subject to Change without prior notice

Source: Airindia.com

Click here to download Air India LTC-80 Fares w.e.f. 3rd November, 2014

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