Improve VII CPC recommendations. Revise Central Govt. employees wages immediately.
In the face of the unprecedented rise in the inflation of the Indian
Economy during 2006-16, the Central Govt. employees demanded the
Government to affect wage rise, for the emoluments fixed on the basis of
the 6th CPC was incapable of meeting the both ends of an employee.
Though under threat the then Government conceded the demand for setting
up of the 7th CPC, they refused to grant any interim relief or DA
merger, which alone would have mitigated the difficulties of the low
paid employees.
When the NDA Government came to power, the NJCA & CCGGOO
approached them also with a request that the difficulties of the low
paid employees in Central Government must be appreciated and the demand
for Interim Relief or DA merger be conceded. The NDA Government too did
not respond to the plea made by the NJCA & CCGGOO.
The 7th CPC was to submit its report in August, 2016. However, at the
intervention of the Government, the report was further delayed and it
ultimately reached the Government only in November, 2015.
The report of the 7th Central pay commission was totally
disappointing as it did not address any of the issues projected before
them in a proper manner and most of the demands were rejected sans
reasoning and logic. The increase they recommended was a paltry 14%, the
lowest any Pay Commission had ever suggested.
Except setting up an Empowered Committee of Secretaries, the
Government did not do anything so far on the report. It is now more than
six months the report is with the Government. Normally the revised
allowances which form part and parcel of the salary of the employees are
granted with prospective effect i.e. from the date of the issue of the
orders. The delay in taking decision on the 7th pay commission report
will rob the employees of the increased allowances for ever.
The Staff side had been pursuing to have a meaningful negotiation and
settlement of the issues. Except hearing the leaders of NJCA &
CCGGOO, the empowered Committee did not go further. It acted as if it
was powerless and the final decision will have to be taken by the
Government. At the request of the Cabinet Secretary on 1st March, 2016
the strike action which was to commence in April, 2016 was deferred.
The determination of the Minimum wage on the basis of Dr. Aykhroyd
formula enunciated in 1957 to which the Government of India was a party
is the most significant issue. A right settlement thereon will have far
reaching impact in the wage determination of the entire working class in
the country. The confrontation is between the forces who wanted India
to be the destination for cheap labour and others who fight against the
exploitation.
The new Contributory Pension scheme introduced by the Government in
2004 has made one third of the Civil servants unsure of their
entitlement at the evening of their life even though they were to
contribute huge sums from their wages every month compulsorily. The
PFRDA bill became an Act in the country as the members of Parliament
both belonging to NDA and UPA voted in favour of the loot of the
employees. Even the recommendation made by the Standing Committee of the
Parliament to provide for a minimum guaranteed annuity pension was
rejected when the Bill was passed. The other issue which must have a
satisfactory settlement is about the contributory pension scheme.
The new pension scheme is a curse on the employees. As far as
employees are concerned, they are worried that in future they may be
deprived of their pension in total. They are also worried that there is
no guarantee of either family pension or gratuity as per 7th pay
commission recommendations. Scrap the PFRDA Act and NPS and grant
Pension/family Pension to all CG employees under CCS (Pension) Rules,
1972 & Railways Pension Rules, 1993.
The one and only positive recommendation made by the 7th CPC was to
provide some relief to the in the pension entitlement of the past
pensioners. The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has
unfortunately recommended to the Cabinet Secretary that, even that
recommendation must be rejected on the specious plea that the requisite
relevant records might not be available.
The central government employees are very much annoyed and anxious
with the 7th pay commission recommendations. As there had been no
fruitful negotiations or discussions and having realized that the
Government has no intention to settle the Charter of demands, the NJCA
& CCGGOO have served strike notices. The indefinite strike will
commence on 11th July, 2016, if no satisfactory settlement is brought
about on the charter of demands. Prime Minister should intervene
immediately for improvement of VII CPC recommendations and revision of
Central Govt. employees wages.
Source-http://aidrdotoa.blogspot.in/
