Demand of staff side to increase the subscription and the insurance coverage – NC JCM
“The Staff Side recalled the assurance held out by the Commission
earlier to have the actuarial assessed by an expert agency to accede to
the demand of the staff side to increase the subscription and the
insurance coverage. The Staff Side was of the opinion that their
suggestion to share the subscription in the ratio of 3:7 was reasonable
but in the absence of an expert study, the Government might not accept
the same. The commission said that they would explore the possibility of
such an assessment by the LIC before finalization of the report.”
Feedback of NC JCM meeting with 7th Pay Commission
Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary
Ph: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
E-Mail: nc.jcm.ni@gmail.com
No.NC/JCM/2015
Dated: June 15, 2015
All Constituent Organisations of National Council(JCM)
Dear Comrades,
As indicated in our last circular letter, the final meeting with the
7th CPC was hled on 9.6.2015. Earlier on 8th afternoon, the Staff side
had met separately to chalk out the course of negotiations. The National
JCA also met on the same day. The National Anomaly Committee met on 9th
June, 2015 at 3.00 pm under the Chairmanship of Joint Secretary (E)
Department of Personnel at Room No. 72 North Block, New Delhi. We give
hereunder a brief synopsis of the discussions at all the meetings.
1. Meeting with 7thCPC
The following Staff Side members were present at the Meeting:- Com.
M. Raghavaiah(Leader Staff Side – NFIR), Com. Shiva Gopal
Mishra(Secretary, Staff Side-AIRF), Com. Guman Singh, Com. R.P.
Bhatnagar and Com. B.C. Sharma(all from NFIR), Com. Rakhal Dasgupta,
Com. J.R. Bhosale (AIRF), Com. KKN Kutty, Com. M.S. Raja and Com. M.
Krishnan (from Confederation and NFPE), Com. Srikumar and Com. R.N.
Pathak(from AIDEF) Com. Srinivasan and Com. Surjeet Singh( From INDWF).
(a) Date of Effect – The Chairman has made it clear that
the Commission would recommend 1.1.2016 as the date of effect of their
recommendations. The Commission would finalise its report by end of
August and would submit the same to the Government thereafter. They
would adopt Dr. Aykroyd formula for the computation of the Minmum wage.
To the specific query made by the Staff Side, the Commission said that
they would factor the probable increase In the rate of retail prices of
the commodities and would arrive at the minimum wage as on 1.1.2016.
There had been no reply to the loss of wages to the employees due to the
erosion of the real value of wages as there was no interim relief or
benefit accrued from the merger of DA. These demands, therefore, stand
rejected.
(b) Increase in the insurance coverage in cases of death in harness –
The Staff Side recalled the assurance held out by the Commission
earlier to have the actuarial assessed by an expert agency to accede to
the demand of the staff side to increase the subscription and the
insurance coverage. The Staff Side was of the opinion that their
suggestion to share the subscription in the ratio of 3:7 was reasonable
but in the absence of an expert study, the Government might not accept
the same. The commission said that they would explore the possibility of
such an assessment by the LIC before finalization of the report.
(c) Fitment Formula – The Commission might accept the suggestion made
by the Staff Side in respect of fitment formula with requisite change
in the ratio on the basis of the quantum of minimum wage determined.
(d) In the matters of rate of increment, quantum of allowances etc. –
The Commission did not come out clearly of their thinking in the
matter.
(e) Parity in Pension entitlement of the past and present pensioners –
The Commission is yet to make up its mind on the suggestion made by the
staff side in the matter. They however said that almost all the
Pensioners organizations which met the Commission had pleaded for this
and the same is linked with the one rank one pension demand of the Armed
forces personnel.
(f) MACP Scheme – The difficulties and anomalies pointed out by the
Staff Side and various other organizations have been taken note of by
the Commission. The Commission assured to evolve a methodology to
resolve the problem.
(g) Opposition to the induction of casual/daily rated workers and
contractorisation – The Commission said that they were opposed to the
unfair practice of exploitation of labour. For jobs which are of
perennial and permanent character, regular workers must be recruited,
the Commission added and that would obviate the need for outsourcing and
contractorisation. Since most of the outsourced jobs do not require any
academic qualification, the Commission was of the opinion that the
revival of Group D cadre would help to address the issue. However, the
Commission stated that if only the staff side sends in a communication
in writing, the Commission would be able to make any recommendation in
the matter. The Staff Side reiterated that they are totally opposed to
outsourcing, induction of casual workers and contractorisation and the
same has been made explicit in their memorandum.
(h) Parity in the pay scales between the personnel in the Central
Sectt and those in the subordinate establishments – The Commission
stated that they have appreciated the stand taken by the Staff Side in
the matter. The Commission was non committal on other issues raised by
the Staff Side members.
2. National Anomaly Committee meeting
The meeting was held at Room No. 72 North Block, under the
Chairmanship of J.S(E) Department of Personnel and Training. In the
initial remarks, the Staff side raised the following issues.
(a) Though the official side had promised to provide an
action taken statement on all issues in the National Council, the same
has not been supplied;
(b) No date for the National Council is indicated.
(c) No indication of the steps taken to convene the Departmental
Councils. The official side had assured of the convening of the
Departmental Council of the Ministry of Finance in the last meeting.
However, the staff side has not been apprised of any date so far.
(d) Abnormal delay in replying to the references made to the Ministry
of Finance, Department of Personnel from the Railways and other
Ministries.
(e) The necessity to increase the ceiling limit of the rebate in Incometax for the allowances given to the Loco Pilots.
(f) Non-adherence to the GOI instructions by the Defence Ministry in certain matters.
The Official Side stated that the Action taken Statement was almost
ready but for certain comments from Certain departments. The same would
be sent to the staff Side and another meeting held to discuss the course
of action required on items where no agreement could be reached. The JS
(per) stated that some of the references received from the Railways had
been sent back to them for clarification before a final decision is
taken. Regarding increase in the rebate ceiling under the Income tax
Act, the matter would be referred to the revenue department and
requested the staff side to appreciate that the same has to
be considered in a wider perspective. Thereafter the agenda items, which
had not been discussed even once were taken up.
(i) Anomaly in the Pay Band and Grade Pay assigned to the
Group B Officers of the Audit, Income Tax, Accounts, Central Excise and
Customs and Postal Departments. (Agenda Item No. 1 and 8 taken
together.) Despite agreeing that there existed an anomaly in the matter,
the official side expressed their inability to proceed further in the
matter as the Group B Officers were beyond the ambit of the JCM scheme.
However, they agreed that the Govt. would submit take up the issue
specifically with the 7th CPC. Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra said that the
Govt. must consider a JCM set up for the promote officers as their cases
are not heard or discussed at any other forum. Com. Kutty said that the
items were introduced as early as in 2009 and it was not correct on the
part of the official side to state that the same would be referred to
the 7th CPC. Normally the Pay Commission would not entertain to consider
the anomalies of the earlier Commissions. However, after some
discussions, it was concluded that the Govt. must take up the issue with
the 7th CPC, in spite of the fact that the Commission has almost
reached its concluding stage.
(ii) Anomaly in the pay and Grade Pay of Data Processing Assistants
Grade A.. The official side did not agree with the contention that the
assigning of higher grade pay to certain categories of officers
(7450-11500 and Grade Pay4600) was arbitrary. The Government, they
added, had acted upon the recommendation of the 6th CPC. They also said
that only in those cases where the pre-revised pay scales were in
6500-10500 such up-gradation had been made. In the case of DPA Grade A,
they were in the pre revised scale of pay of Rs. 5500-9000.
(iii) Item No.3. Grant of Grade pay of Rs. 4200 to Lab Technicians.
The official side said that the orders have been issued in the matter.
(iv) Item No.4. Up-gradation of Pay Band and Grade pay of LDCs and UDCs.
The Staff Side made the following points in support of the item:-
(a) The Grade pay of Rs. 1900 assigned to LDCs by the 6th
CPC was without any logic and without appreciating the existing
vertical relativity between Group D and LDCs and LDCs and UDCs.
(b) While creating the non functional grade in the grade pay of Rs.
4200 in the Central Secretariat, the Department of Personnel, which is
the nodal department for all matters concerning the common categories,
did not extend the benefit to the UDCs in the Subordinate offices.
(c) The Staff side also pointed out the Department while
restructuring the cadre of stenographers in the Central Sectt. earlier,
had extended the benefit to all Stenographers in the subordinate
offices.
The official side stated that it was not possible for them to address
the issue, whatever may be its justification in the background of the
setting up of the 7th CPC. They however, assured to make a reference
specifically to the Commission.
(v) Item No.5. Senior Clerks in DMS to be assigned grade pay of Rs.
4200. The matter was stated to be sub-judice. Staff Side, however,
stated that, with the change in Recruitment Rules, they should brought
at par with the Railways.
(vi) Item No. 6 and 12. The two agenda items being identical were
take up together. The Staff side pointed out the glaring discrimination
in the matter. They also stated that the number of employees involved is
very small. On behalf of the Postal Department it was stated that the
recruitment qualification in the
Postal Department was VIII Standard and ITI whereas in other
establishment, the academic qualification stipulated was X Standard. The
Staff side contested the same pointing out that no person is entitled
to be admitted to ITI without having X standard qualification. They
pointed out that the merger of Artisan Grade I and Charge hand was the
root cause of the problem. The official side took the stand that in any
case the anomaly cannot be removed at this stage and have to wait till
the 7th CPC recommendations are made.
(vii) Item No. 7. Parity in pay scales between the Central Sectt. and
subordinate offices. The official side said that the up-gradation of
the pay scale of Central Sectt. Assistants were on well found grounds.
The Government had considered the repercussion of the said decision and
therefore, the decision is not possible to be either reversed or
extended to any other category of employees. They added that perhaps the
7th CPC before whom the matter is already agitated by the employees
organizations of the subordinate offices might take a decision in the
matter.
(viii) Item No. 9 and 10. Higher grade pay for Medical Assistants and
Store keepers. The Defence Ministry was asked to submit a detailed note
to the Ministry of Finance indicating the duties and responsibilities
assigned as also the recruitment qualifications stipulated in the RR to
enable them to reconsider the issue.
(ix) Children Educational Allowance for any two children. The
official side stated that the deviation made in identifying the eldest
two children was consciously done taking into account the National
Population policy and various other factors and is not likely to be
changed. Regarding the claim for reimbursement of expenses incurred in
the nursery class, as such institutions or classes are not linked to any
Educational Boards, the official side said that they would look into
the matter with a view to find a solution thereof.
Comradely yours,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary (Staff Side) NC/JCM & Convener
Source: NC JCM Staff Side
