Crucial issues related to the revival of BSNL

BSNL EMPLOYEES UNION

Centred Head Quarter

Main Recognised Representation Union,
Dada Ghosh Bhawan, 215/1, new patel Nagar,
Opp. Shadipur Bus Depot, New Delhi-110001

BSNLEU/ 604 (DEV)

06.06.2019

To,
Shn Ravi Shankar Prasad Ji,
Hon'ble Minister of Communications,
Sanchar Bhawan,
20, Ashoka Road,
New Delhi- 110001

Sir,
Sub: Crucial issues related to the revival of BSNL - reg.

At the outset, BSNLEU, the main recognised representative union In BSNL, heartily welcomes you, on your assuming change as the Hon'ble Minister of Telecommunications and IT. On this occasion, BSNLEU welcomes and also highly appreciates your statement that, BSNL and MTNL should remain healthy in the nation's interest. BSNLEU also approves your view that BSNL and MTNL need to become professional and adopt the competitive, attitude. In this connection, we also recollect the statement made by you, in your earlier tenure as the Honb'le Minister of Communications and IT, that BSNL was not allowed to grow for 10 years from 2004. BSNLEU assures to strengthen your hands, in all your endeavours to strengthen BSNL.

It is not out of context to point out here that, the entire telecom sector is stressed due to the predatory pricing being adopted by Reliance Jio. Due to this, all the telecom service providers. including Airtel and Vodafone Idea, have gone into loss. However, even under such a stressed situation, it is only BSNL, apart from Reliance Jio, which is consistently expanding its Mobile Customer bass every month. Under these circumstances, we wish to reiterate that, an early allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, by the government, will go a long way In speedily restoring the financial health of BSNL.
At this juncture, it is our duty to bring to your kind notice that, two Important decisions of the Union cabinet, taken in September, 2000, i.e. on the eve of the formation of BSNL, are yet to be implemented. Both these decisions are very crucial for the financial revival of BSNL The first decision is that, the government would do everything possible to keep BSNL financially viable. It is needless to state that this decision needs to be implemented in letter and spirit. The second decision is that. alt the asset and liabilities of the department would be transferred to BSNL While the liabilities stand transferred to BSNL, the assets are not transferred to BSNL. We request you to kindly look into these and to do the needful.

At this juncture, we also like to draw your kind attention to the moves presently being, made by the DoT and BSNL Management, to implement VRS, is well as the rolling back of the retirement at from 60 to 58 years, in the name of reviving BSNL's financial health. When 79,295 employees, from the present strength of 1,65,657, are going to retire In the next 4 years, ie., by April,2024, we do not understand the logic behind the urgency to implement VRS in BSNL. Similarly, as per the assurance given by the government in 2000, to the erstwhile recognised federations, only the government rules with regards to retirement age, are applicable to BSNL employees. We request you to kindly look into these aspects.

Another important aspect, connected with the revival of BSNL is that the Company is having vacant lands throughout the country, whose value is pegged at more than Rs.1 lakh crore. BSNL Management has estimated to earn Rs. 5000 crore to Rs. 10,000 crore per annum, by renting / leasing out those vacant lands. However, the DoT is yet to accord necessary approval to BSNL, for the monetization of the vacant lands. Similarly, the government of India Rule, in respect of payment of Pension Contribution, is yet to be implemented in the case of BSNL, as a result of which a huge amount is being collected in excess every year from BSNL, in the name of Pension Contribution. An early decision by the DoT in these issues, will go a long way to ensure the financial revival of BSNL.
Finally, the issues of implementation of 3rd Pay Revision to the BSNL employees, and also the issue of Revision of Pension to the BSNL retirees are, agitating the minds of the employees and the pensioners, An early, as well as positive decisions on these two issues, will greatly motivate the Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL, to contribute their mite for the Revival of BSNL.

We request you to kindly look into these issues and to ensure a positive settlement of the same.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,
P. Abhimanyu
General Secretary

Source: BSNL Employees Union

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Demonstrations of protest against salary non - payment to BSNL employees

Demonstrations of protest against salary non - payment to BSNL employees

It is very unfortunate that payment of salaries of the Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL for the month of February, 2019 is not made today.

All of us are aware that BSNL is not getting permission of the DoT for taking Bank loans. The AUAB has already demanded that the DoT should immediately permit BSNL for taking Bank loans to tide over the crises.

However, so far, the DoT has not given the necessary approval.

The AUAB has called on the employees to organize demonstrations tomorrow the 01-03-2019, protesting the non-payment of salary and demanding the DoT to immediately grant sanction to BSNL for taking Bank loans.

All Circle and District unions of BSNLEU are requested to coordinate with the other constituents of AUAB and to organize the demonstrations successfully.

P.Abhimanyu,
General Secretary
BSNL Employees Union

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BSNL: Why Pay Revision with 15% Fitment cannot be denied

Why Pay Revision with 15% Fitment cannot be denied

CHQ WRITES TO MOSC REQUESTING IMPLEMENTATION OF REVISED PAY SCALES WITH 15% FITMENT BENEFIT FOR BSNL EXECUTIVES

No.AIBSNLOA/CHQ/2017/42

Dated: 15th November 2017

To
Shri Manoj Sinha,
Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications,
Government of India
New Delhi

Subject: Implementation of revised pay scales with 15% fitment benefit for BSNL executives - reg.

Hon'ble Sir,
At the outset, we are thankful for your reported inclination towards implementing revised pay scales with 25% fitment benefit in respect of BSNL executives, even though BSNL does not fully meet the affordability condition stipulated by the 3rd PRC but BSNL is already on revival path and reporting operational profit for last few years. In this regard, we would like to draw your kind attention to the fact that MTNL employees were allowed pay revision as recommended by 2nd PRC w.e.f. 1.1.2007 with the highest 30% fitment benefit although the affordability clause existed then and MTNL was incurring loss for consecutive years.

2. We now learn that BSNL Board has approved a proposal for pay revision and has submitted to the administrative department i.e., the Department of Telecommunication.

3. It is needless to say that BSNL was formed when Hon’ble Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, was the Prime Minister of India, with a Mission to provide world class, State-of-art technology based telecom services on demand at affordable prices and to provide world class telecom infrastructure to develop country’s economy. At the time of Corporatisation, while approving HRD and financial issues arising out of the corporatisation, the Union Cabinet had assured that “Government will consider and provide a package of measures so that the viability of BSNL is not impaired because of implementation of any socially desirable uneconomic activity, such as rural telephony, undetaken by BSNL at the behest of Government”.

4. Since then, BSNL has been discharging the social obligations of the Government of India by providing services in remote and rural areas inspite of incurring loss because of these services and its presence in the Telecom industry as a fully Government owned PSU, aiming at providing world class services at affordable tariff, has been accepted by every stake holder as a ‘moderating factor’ in controlling the tariff in favour of the customers.

5. When all private networks failed to provide dependable service during natural calamities, whether it was Hudhud cyclone in Andhra Pradesh, Vardha cyclone in Tamilnadu, Floods in Tamilnadu and Uttarakhand, Earthquake in Jammu & Kashmir, BSNL was the only operator which proved its robustness.

6.1 In the prestigious Digital India programme of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India too, BSNL is contributing in two three areas, like National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN), providing Wi-fi hotspots at commercial places, Mobile Wallet service under the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana and delivering m-governance services like digital mandi, kisan seva, Digital high quality educational content among others. BSNL’s contribution towards BharatNet is also worth mentioning.

6.2 BSNL's role in ensuring GST compliance also cannot be under estimated. BSNL introduced GSP/ASP service on PAN India basis to assist Small and Medium Enterprises as well as large business houses in transitioning to GST by launching an application software which will record invoices on a PC / hand held device or a smart phone along with all GST compliances like preparation of GST Returns, Assistance in generation of GST challans for payment, filing of GST Returns, sending back mismatch invoices etc. BSNL also played an effective role during demonetisation in last November by providing seamless network connectivity among banks and financial institutions.

7. Recently BSNL has signed (MoU) with Fiber Home to jointly start manufacturing telecom equipment and optical fiber cable in BSNL factories, underscoring another initiative by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India – ‘Make in India’.

8. BSNL revenue over the past three years is increasing. The year 2013-14 saw an increase in revenue of 3.2%. The year 2014-15 saw an increase of 2.32%. In the year 2015-16, the increase in income is 14.92% whereas in the same year the expenses decreased marginally by 1.47%. The loss is declining and BSNL is likely to make profit in 2018.

9. While these are sufficient ground justifying revision of pay scales of BSNL employees with 15% fitment benefit, we would like to draw your kind attention towards another major fact which cannot be ignored or overlooked.

10. All the senior officers of Department of Telecommunication who are on ‘deployment’ in BSNL, holding major managerial positions in BSNL have already got their pay fixed in revised scales as per the recommendations of VII Central Pay Commission with 14.2% fitment benefit w.e.f. 1.1.2016. All of them draw their higher pay and perks from BSNL and BSNL’s affordability to pay was not at all an issue for them. If BSNL employees are denied the revised pay with 15% fitment benefit, it will result in an unprecedented discrimination against its own employees vis-à-vis those who are under ‘deployment’. The fall out of such a situation will be unparalleled in the history of indian Public Sector.

11. It will be therefore unfair if BSNL executives are denied their due pay revision in the name of non-affordability, since such a proposition will have a negative impact on their morale which in turn will affect the revival plans of BSNL.

12. We therefore earnestly request you to kindly get the issue examined thoroughly and to ensure that pay revision as per 3rd PRC recommendations are implemented in BSNL with 15% fitment benefit in view of its strategic national importance.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,
(Rakesh Sethi)
General Secretary

Source: http://www.aibsnloa.org/

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BSNL Clarification regarding Employees Pension Scheme

BSNL Clarification regarding Employees Pension Scheme

BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED
(A Govt. of India Enterprise)

NO.500-85/CA-II/BSNL/EPF/2011/Vol.VI

Dated 19.01.2016

To,
The IFAs,
All Circles
BSNL

Sub.: Various Gazette Notifications issued by EPFO from Time to Time

This office has been receiving queries regarding Employees Pension Scheme.

In this regard, it is informed that EPFO vide its letter no. Actuarial / 18(2)2008/ Vol.III/7738 dated 29.08.2014 (copy enclosed) has already clarified that henceforth, EPS will apply only to EPF members whose pay at the time of becoming PF member is not more than Rs.15000/- per month on or after 01.09.2014. The entire employer and employee contribution shall remain in the Provident Fund and no diversion to EPS shall be made for all new PF members on or after 01.09.2014 having salary more than Rs. 15000/- at the time of joining.

In this connection, it is mentioned that this office has already issued instructions to act in accordance with the Gazette Notifications issued by EPFO, from time to time, without waiting for endorsement from the Corporate Office as the non compliance of the EPF guidelines attract penal provisions.

It is further mentioned that suitable action may be taken by the circles for rectification of any erroneous deduction made and deposited with EPFO under the EPS head for the employees covered under the above mentioned letter of EPFO dated 29.08.2014.

All BSNL units are hereby requested to kindly take necessary action in accordance with the instructions issued by EPFO.

Encl: As above

(V.M.Gupta)
Dy. General Manager (CA-III)

EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION
(Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India)
Head Office

Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 14, Bhikaiji Came Place, New Delhi – 110 066.

No. Actuarial/18(2)2008/Vol.III/7738

Dated: 29.08.2014

To
All Addl. Central P.F. Commissioners (Zones)
All Regional P.F.Commissioners (In-Charge of Region)

Sub: Gazette Notification providing for increase in wage ceiling under EPS 1995 from Rs. 6500 to Rs.10000/- which shall come into force on and from the 1st day of Sept 2014.

Sir.
This is in continuation of this office circular No Actuary/l 8(2)2008/ Vol.111/5905 dated 23.07.2014 wherein it was informed that the Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 is being amended to increase the wage ceiling from Rs.6500/- per month to Rs. 15,000/- per month in the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.

2. The proposed amendments have since been noti red vide Gazette Notification No. GSR 609 (E) which shall come into force on and from the 1st day of September, 2014 (Copy of notification enclosed).

3. Accordingly, with effect from the 1st day of September, 2014, the pensionable salary for all cases of exit/death on or after 01.09.2014, for calculating pension shall be the average monthly pay drawn during the contributory period of service in the span of 60 months preceding the date of death/exit from the membership of the Employees” Pension Fund. The pensionable salary shall be calculated on pro-rata basis separately for the period up to 31.08.2014 up to wage ceiling of R.6,500/- per month and for the subsequent period upto the wage ceiling of Rs.15,000 per month. Similarly. the Withdrawal Benefit shall be based on the weighted wages at different wage ceilings. As already informed necessary amendments in the applicable on software are being carried out and the necessary software shall be released by I.S. Division at the earliest.

4. Accordingly, requisite steps may be taken so hat full details of wages for 60 months are available to settle the pension claims in accordance with the proposed modification. In this regard, Form 10-C & Form 10 D are also being redesigned to incorporate the above changes and shall be circulated soon. However in the meantime wage details be obtained by attaching additional sheet or giving details of 60 months of wages along with Form 10-D in respect of all members having date of exit from EPS 1995.

5. The members having date of exit from EPS, 1995 on account of superannuation/option date for commencement of early pension etc. prior to 01.09.2014 shall get Pensionary benefits on the basis of the existing pensionable salary calculations ie by taking 12 months average.

6. Further, with effect from 01.09.2014, wherever employer & employees have opted to contribute on salary exceeding Rs.6,500/- per month such employer & employees will have to exercise a fresh option to contribute on salary exceeding Rs.15,000/- per month subject to the condition that such member would have to contribute the Government’s share of contribution @ 1.16% on the salary exceeding Rs.15,000/- per month from his/her share of contribution. The fresh Option is to be exercised within a period of 6 months. It is essential to know with certainty the employee who are currently permitted to contribute to EPS on higher wages, so that fresh options can be called for. Accordingly, you may immediately flag all such cases of contribution on salary exceeding Rs.6,500/- per month and obtain fresh options in a time bound manner. It may be made known to the existing optees that if the fresh option is not exercised it shall be deemed that the employee has not Opted in allowing contribution over age ceiling and the contributions to Employees Pension Fund made above the wage ceiling in respect of the member shall be diverted to the Provident Fund account of the memer along with interest as declared under the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme from time to time.

7. Furthermore, with effect from 01.09.2014 the provisions for contribution on higher salary has been deleted and as such no new options can be allowed to any member of EPS, 1995 on and after 01.09.2014.
8. As EPS will henceforth apply only to EPF members whose pay at the time of becoming PF member is not more than Rs. l5,000/- per month on or after 01.09.2014 the entire employer and employee contribution shall remain in the Provident Fund and no diversion to EPS shall be made for all new PF members on or after 01.09.2014 having salary more than 15,000/- at the time of joining. This must be ensured as any negligence on this issue may lead to unwarranted litigations.

9. The above actions may be taken without any deviation and officer in charge shall be responsible for compliance of above directions under his jurisdiction.

(This issues with the approval of CPFC)

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(CHANDRAMAULI CHAKRABORTY)
REGIONAL E.F.COMMISSIONER-I (Pensions)

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