7th CPC: Central government employees salary hikes not before June?

7th CPC: Central government employees salary hikes not before June?

New Delhi: Government is likely to accept the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission and offer salary hikes to Central Government Employees not before June 2016.

Though, the matter may become clearer when Finance Ministry announces the details on implementation, and that is expected to happen before Budget 2016-17 in February.

Then there are Assembly elections expected in Pondicherry, Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala. So the implementation of salary hike is also expected only when the State Assembly elections are over by June/July.

Also, as per reports, seven states: UP, Punjab, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Tripura and Sikkim, have requested the Centre to delay implementation of salary hikes due to the financial burden 7th CPC recommendations are likely to cast on the state exchequer.

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Grant of financial upgradation under MACPS in the promotional hierarchy (instead of Grade Pay hierarchy) – NFIR

Grant of financial upgradation under MACPS in the promotional hierarchy (instead of Grade Pay hierarchy) – NFIR

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110055

No. IV/MACPS/09/Part9

Dated: 05/01/2016

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Grant of financial up-gradation under MACPS in the promotional hierarchy- (instead of Grade Pay hierarchy) – Item No.3 of Record Note of discussion held between the Federation and EDs, Railway Board on 12/10/2015 on MACPS Anomalies-reg.

Ref: Railway Board’s letter No. PC-V/M/4/NFIR/pt dated 04/01/2016.

NFIR provides below the details of the cadres to whom ACP Scheme was more advantageous than the MACP Scheme introduced by the Railway Board w.e.f. 01/09/2008 – Board’s letter No. PC-V/2009/ACP/2 dated 10/06/2009:-

Note: *The employee has to wait for 6 years more to get GP 2800/- which is the replacement pay scale of Rs.4500- 7000 (Vth CPC) under MACP Scheme.

Note: *While the Stenographer got 5OOO-8OOO/GP4200/- on completion of 12 years under ACP, he should wait for 20 years under MACPS. Similarly he should complete 30 years for becoming eligible for GP 4600/- whereas under ACPS he could become eligible on completion of 24 years service.

The comparative position between ACPS and MACPS as mentioned above establishes that in Railways the employees have been put to grave disadvantage leading to serious resentment against MACP Scheme

Yours faithfully

sd/-
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(Railway Board)

No. PC-V/M/4/NFIR/pt

New Delhi, dated 04/01/2016

The General Secretary,
NFIR,
3, Chelmsford Road,
New Delhi-55

The General Secretary,
AIRF,
4, State Entry Road,
New Delhi-55

Sirs,

Sub:-Grant of financial upgradation under MACPS in the promotional hierarchy- (instead of Grade Pay hierarchy)-reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to item NO.3 of the record note of discussions held an 12.10.2015 on MACPS anomalies. In respect of the item No.3, it has been decided to indentify the cadres for whom ACP Scheme is more advantageous than MACP Scheme. Thereafter, a reference will be made to DoP&T.

In view of the minutes of the meeting, it is requested to provide the details of the cadres to wham ACP Scheme is more advantageous than MACP Scheme along with supporting documents so that a reference may be made to DoP&T.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-
for Secretary, Railway Board

Source: NFIR

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No transfer for central government employees with Thalassemia, Haemophiliac kids

No transfer for central government employees with Thalassemia, Haemophiliac kids

Central government employees who have children suffering from Thalassemia and Haemophilia will be exempted from routine transfers and will not be asked to take voluntary retirement on refusing such postings, as per the new rules announced today by the Centre.

The matter regarding the scope of ‘disabled’ has been examined by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in consultation with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

Considering the fact that the child suffering from Thalassemia and Haemophilia requires constant caregiver support and it would be imperative for government employees to take care of their child on continuous basis, it has been decided to include Thalassemia and Haemophilia in the category of disabled child, the new rules issued by the DoPT said.

At present, employees with kids suffering from blindness or low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disability or cerebral palsy, leprosy, mental retardation, mental illness, multiple disabilities and autism are spared from routine transfers.

A government employee with a disabled child serves as the main caregiver and any displacement of such employee will have a bearing on the systemic rehabilitation of the child since the new environment or set up could prove to be a hindrance for rehabilitation process, as per the existing policy.

“Therefore, a government servant who is also a caregiver of disabled child may be exempted from the routine exercise of transfer or rotational transfer subject to the administrative constraints,” DoPT Office Memorandum No.42011/3/2014-Estt.(Res) dated January 5 said.

Upbringing and rehabilitation of disabled child requires financial support. Making the government employee to choose voluntary retirement on the pretext of routine transfer or rotation transfer would have adverse impact on the rehabilitation process of the child, the DoPT policy says and exempts such employees from routine transfers and seeking voluntary retirements.

PTI

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NFIR’s proposals for Rail Budget 2016-17

NFIR’s proposals for Rail Budget 2016-17

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110055

Affiliated to:
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

No. IV/NFIR/RAIL-BUDGET/PT.II

Dated: 05/01/2016

Shri Suresh Prabhu,
Hon’ble Minister for Railways,
Rail Mantralaya,
Rail Bhavan,
New Delhi.

Respected Sir,

Sub: NFIR’s proposals for Rail Budget 2016-17-reg.

NFIR wishes to bring to your kind notice that the Railway Ministers have made budget pronouncements for Staff Welfare, but, however the following pronouncements have not been implemented till date. Extract of pronouncements are placed below:-

Railway Budget 2009-10

STAFF WELFARE

Item No. 32
“A thrust will be given under the Corporate Welfare Plan for improvement of staff quarters & colonies. During 2009-10, 6550 Staff Quarters are proposed to be constructed.

It is proposed to Open seven Nursing Colleges on Railway land at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai (Kalyan), Chennai, Secunderabad, Lucknow and Jabalpur on Public Private Partnership model so as to facilitate the wards of the Railway employees in finding a good vocational avenue”.

Railway Budget 2010-11

STAFF WELFARE & HEALTH

Item No. 49 of the Budget Speech:- A new Scheme of ‘House for All’, was launched to provide residences to all Railway employees in the next ten years with the help of Ministry of Urban Development.

Item No. 54 of Budget speech:- It is proposed to set up 50 Creches for children of 80,000 women employees and 20 hostels. Railways will also provide more numbers of community centres and stadiums.

Railway Budget 2011-12

* Extending medical facilities to both dependent father & mother.
* 20 additional hostels for children of Railway employees to be set up.

Railway Budget 2012-13

Railways is a 24×7 service available to the rail-users. To run services at this scale, the employees have to put in long hours of duty without any respite round the year and the compulsion of job creates high stress levels. I therefore intend to introduce a wellness programme for them at their places for early detection. of risk factors, prevention and early treatment of diseases caused due to high blood pressure and sugar levels, obesity and other lifestyle related ailments.

We need to recognize the dedication, hard work and sacrifice of the staff at all levels. To minimize incidence of human error especially amongst the skilled and technical staff including loco pilots, cabin men and gangmen, it is important to ensure proper rest period for them. I am also conscious of the importance of periodic training and creation of a general environment to provide them enhanced dignity. I have also requested NID to design appropriate outfits for various categories of workforce.

Railway Budget 2013-14

Construction of staff quarters has been hampered by funding constraints. Encouraged by the success of Ministry of Urban Development in constructing quarters through PPP mode, I propose to=adopt the same in the Railways. Yet, I have enhanced the fund allocation under staff quarter by 50% over previous year to provide Rs. 3000 crore.

Provision of hostel facilities for single women railway employees at all Divisional Headquarters.

Considering the stress faced by loco-pilots particularly in harsh climatic conditions, it is proposed to provide water closets and air condition the locomotive cabs.

Conduct National Skill Development Programme of the Ministry of Railways to impart skills to the youths in Railway related trades at 25 locations spread across the length and breadth of the country.
Setting up of a multi-disciplinary training institute at Nagpur for imparting training in rail related electronics technologies.

NFIR requests the Hon’ble Railway Minister to see that the Government takes steps for fulfillment of its Budget pronouncements.

II. NFIR also requests the Hon’ble MR to consider making Budget announcements on the following:-

(a) Provision of funds for construction/improvement of Railway Institutes, Community Halls and Holiday Homes.

(b) Provision of adequate funds for construction of new Railway Quarters on replacement account to the extant of 100%.

(c) Sanctioning of Cardiology Department at Northern Railway Central Hospital, New Delhi.
(d) Road Mobile Medical Vans facility for covering all remote and inaccessible areas in Railways.

III. NFIR alsoybrings to the notice of Hon’ble Railway Minister that the condition of Railway Quarters on Indian Railways is awfully bad and many of them deserve demolition. New Quarters are not being built adequately due to inadequate allotment of funds. Federation cites the case of Mumbai area of Western Railway wherein about 1200 Railway quarters (Type-I to Type-IV) have been dismantled by the Railway administration. However, Western Railway authorities have constructed only 447 Railway quarters which is only 37%, of total number demolished. Adequate funds need to be provided for construction of new Quarters atleast equivalent to the number demolished. Also there are over 600 Railway Quarters (Type-I & Type-II) in Mumbai area which do not have separate toilets. The Railway employees and their families living in those quarters in Mumbai are compelled to share common toilets (one toilet shared by 3, to 4 families), thus the lives of employees are miserable.

NFIR requests the Hon’ble MR to consider the points placed above favourably and give decisions.

sd/-
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

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Raise income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh: Unions

Raise income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh: Unions

New Delhi: Trade unions today asked the government to increase the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh and the minimum wage to Rs 18,000 besides raising the minimum monthly pension to Rs 3,000 for all.
They also sought a special package for victims of the recent Tamil Nadu floods.

These demands were raised under a 15-point charter submitted by 11 central trade unions to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during pre-Budget consultations held here. The Union Budget for the next financial year, 2016-17, is slated to be presented in Parliament in February end. It will take effect from April 1.

“We have demanded a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month which is higher than our earlier demand of Rs 15,000,” Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh Zonal Organisation Secretary Pawan Kumar said after the meeting.
The Seventh Pay Commission has recommended Rs 18,000 as minimum monthly wage for central government employees and it should be the benchmark, he said.

All Indian Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said: “We have also demanded Rs 3,000 minimum monthly pension for all and asked for a special package for flood ravaged Tamil Nadu to provide relief to workers as well as industry in the next Budget.”

Sachdev said that in view of price rise “we have also demanded from the government to increase the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh per annum”.

The union have also asked that fringe benefits like housing, medical and educational facilities and running allowances in railways should be exempted from Income Tax.

Unions also demanded that PSUs should be strengthened and expanded and the disinvestment of government shares in profit making PSUs should be stopped.

Besides, they said that the budgetary support should be provided for revival of potentially viable sick PSUs.
On the price rise, the charter said: “Take effective measures to arrest the spiralling price rise especially of food and essential items of daily use. Ban speculative forward trading in essential commodities, check on hoarding and universalise and strengthen Public Distribution System.”

Expressing concerns over steel and aluminium sectors, the unions said: “Relentless and increasing flow of import of industrial commodities including capital goods must be contained and regulated to prevent dumping and also to protect and promote domestic industries and prevent loss of employment.”

It also said that “FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, Railways, financial sector, retail trade and other strategic sectors. In other areas, terms and conditions for FDI should be made public.”

PTI

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