Government approves hike in bonus ceiling from Rs. 3500 to Rs 7000

Government approves hike in bonus ceiling from Rs. 3500 to Rs 7000

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet decided to double the wage ceiling for calculating bonus to Rs 7,000 per month for factory workers and establishments with 20 or more workers.

“The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to enhance the monthly bonus calculation ceiling to Rs 7,000 per month from existing Rs 3,500 was approved by Union Cabinet here,” a source said after the Cabinet meeting.

The amendment bill will be made effective from April 1, 2015. Now the bill will be tabled in Parliament for approval.

The bill also seeks to enhance the eligibility limit for payment of bonus from the salary or wage of an employee from Rs 10,000 per month to Rs 21,000.

The Payment of Bonus Act 1965 is applicable to every factory and other establishment in which 20 or more persons are employed on any day during an accounting year.

The bill also provides for a new proviso in Section 12 which empowers the central government to vary the basis of computing bonus.

At present, under Section 12, where the salary or wage of an employee exceeds Rs 3,500 per month, the minimum or maximum bonus payable to employees are calculated as if his salary or wage were Rs 3,500 per month.

The last amendment to both the eligibility limit and the calculation ceilings under the said Act was carried out in 2007 and was made effective from April 1, 2006.

This amendment in the Act to increase wage ceiling and bonus calculation ceiling was one of ssurances given by the Centre after 10 central trade unions went on one-day strike on September 2.

The government had hinted at meeting workers’ aspirations on nine out of 12 demands submitted by the unions.

Source : AIRF

Punjab Announces Cashless Insurance for Government Employees & Pensioners

Punjab Announces Cashless Insurance for Government Employees & Pensioners

Punjab Announces Cashless Insurance for Govt Employees & Pensioners – The scheme would be made compulsory to employees and pensioners it would be optional for All India Service Officers, serving and ex-MLAs, serving and ex-Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In a significant move that will benefit over 6.50 lakh employees and pensioners of the state government, the Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to implement Cashless Health Insurance scheme in lieu of the existing policy of reimbursement of the medical expenses.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan this evening.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Ministers Office said that the facility of cashless treatment would be provided to Government employee/pensioners and their dependents in more than 250 empanelled public and private hospitals in Punjab, Chandigarh and NCR (Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida) adding that under this scheme all the benefits would be granted to the employee as per Service Rules (Medical Attendance Rules 1940).

The expenses on treatment if taken outside the state would be reimbursed to the employees by the insurance company within 15 days of submission of medical claim. As per the scheme, the expenditure on treatment of patient admitted in hospital and 246 kinds of “day care” procedure (in which treatment was provided in less than 24 hours) and treatment of chronic diseases in OPD would be provided to patient without spending any money.

The OPD expenses other than those related to chronic diseases would continue to be met through fixed medical allowance. The scheme would cover pre and post hospitalisation benefits up to seven days and 30 days respectively, which were not available under the prevailing rules.

Though the insurance company cover was Rs 3 lakh per family, however, the scheme would cover a family for an unlimited amount. The scheme would be made compulsory to employees and pensioners it would be optional for All India Service Officers, serving and ex-MLAs, serving and ex-Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Source: Business Line

Modification in Life Certificate of Pensioners – Acknowledgement to be issued

Finance Ministry advises Banks to issue duly signed acknowledgement to the pensioners while submitting Life Certificate

Department of Expenditure has advised Banks to issue the acknowledgement at the time of submission of Life Certificates by the Pensioners in the prescribed format given below.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

CENTRAL PENSION ACCOUNTING OFFICE

TAIKOOT-II, BHIKAJI CAMA PLACE,

NEW DELHI-110066

PHONES: 26174596, 26174456, 26174438

CPAO/IT &Tech/Scheme Booklet/2015-16/1666

16.10.2015

Office Memorandum

Subject:- Modification in the format of Life Certificate -Issue of Acknowledgement to pensioners.

Attention is invited to this office OM No.CPAO/Tech/Simplification/2012-13/325 dated-18.02.2013 directing the banks to allow pensioners/family pensioners to submit the life certificates as well as other certificates to any branch of the bank through which their pension are being disbursed. In this context, several instances of stoppage of payment of pensions have been reported citing non-receipt of life certificate even though the pensioners had submitted their life certificates to the bank, due to misplacement of the life certificate at the bank branches concerned. Instances of some pension paying banks not accepting life certificates given to them by pensioners and directing pensioners to submit the life certificate to CPPC have also been reported causing great inconvenience to pensioners, which results in either stoppage of payment of pension or delay in payment of pension.

In this context, to alleviate the hardship faced by the pensioners, RBI has also instructed all the Agency Banks handling government pension payment, vide Notification No. RBT/2014-15/ 587 DGBA. GAD No. H-5013/ 45.01.001/2014-15 dated-07.05.2015 that on receipt of life certificate submitted in physical form, banks to issue duly signed acknowledgement to the pensioners and to enter the same in their CBS immediately and issue a system generated receipt to serve the twin purpose of acknowledgement to the pensioners as well as real- time updation of records.

To facilitate the bank authorities, CPAO has prescribed a modified format of life certificate providing therewith acknowledgement of the receipt of the life certificate vide Correction Slip No.24 to the Scheme for Payment of Pensions to Central Government Civil Pensioners by Authorized Banks. The acknowledgement is a part of the format of Life Certificate, which can be detached and given to the pensioner by the receiving bank. The format (Annexure) has been circulated to all concerned and the same has been made available on CPAO’s website ‘www.cpao.nic.in’ at the link
“For Banks”–> Guidelines for Master data.

The Chairmen/Chief Executive Directors of Authorised Banks are requested to ensure that their paying branches follow the above instructions scrupulously without fail.

This issues with the approval of Competent Authority

(Vijay Singh)

Sr. Accounts Officer (IT & Tech)

ANNEXURE-XVIl

(See para 15.1page11 of CPAO’s Scheme Booklet)

Part-A (Every year)

LIFE CERTIFICATE

(To be submitted by Pensioner once a year in November)

Certified that I have seen the pensioner Shri/Smt./Ms._______(Name of Pensioner)
holder of Pension Payment Order No.________ and that he/she is alive on this date.

1. Present address of the pensioner/family pensioner.
2. Telephone/Mobile number (if any).
3. E-mail Address (if any).

Name
Place:

Date:

Designation of Authorised Officer

Seal

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Life Certificate of Pensioner /Family Pensioner of Shri/Smt/Ms.__ (Name of Pensioner) holder of Pension Payment Order No.____ has been
received.

Date :-

Signature .

Name·····················

Stamp of the receiving Bank branch

Download Finance Ministry letter No.CPAO/IT &Tech/Scheme Booklet/2015-16/1666 dated 16.10.2015

Amendment of provisions relating to Railway Staff Benefit Fund

Amendment of provisions relating to Railway Staff Benefit Fund – Chapter 8 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code Volume I, 1985 Edition (Second Reprint Edition – 2003).

Railway Board has amended the Railway Staff Benefit Fund – Chapter 8 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code Volume I, 1985 Edition (Second Reprint Edition – 2003).

RBE No.125/2015

ACS No.127

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

RAILWAY BOARD

No. E(W) 2010/FU-1/4

New Delhi, dated 12.10.201

The General Managers,

All Zonal Railways and Production Units etc.

Sub: Amendment of provisions relating to Railway Staff Benefit Fund – Chapter 8 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code Volume I, 1985 Edition (Second Reprint Edition – 2003).

In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to direct that Rules 805 (1) and 805 (2) of the Indian Railway Establishment Code, Volume-I 1985 Edition be amended as per enclosed Advance Correction Slip No. 127.

2. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

3. Hindi version is enclosed.

4. Please acknowledge receipt.

Encl: Advance Correction Slip.

(Debasis Mazumdar)

Director Establishment (Welfare)

Railway Board

5. Recreation other than sports 32 Recreational facilities, purchase of gym equipments, employees’/wards’ holiday camps, study tours. 6. Recreational facilities at institutes and Clubs etc. 36 7. Promotion of Cultural Activities 16 Organizing cultural programmes in residential colonies, Divisions and schools and purchase/maintenance of instruments etc. 8. Relief of distress, sickness, etc for staff in grade pay up to Rs.4600/ 120 To grant higher amount of relief to employees in need such as immediate financial assistance to railway employees in accidents and for employees who are long sick and hospitalized for a long period and are on leave without pay: no leave (LAP or LHAP) is in his credit. Funeral charges for death of Railway employees be given at 10,000/- in each case. 9. Sports activities 30 Encouraging sports by giving latest sports equipment and imparting training at schools, institutes and clubs 10. Scouts & Guides activities 22 Augmentation of training facility all over railways 11. Indigenous system of medicine including Homoeopathy 36 12. Immediate relief in times of crisis arising out of floods, famines, landslides, fire or any other
calamity 24 13. Developing occupational .skills of physically/mentally challenged railway employees and their wards including purchase of wheel chairs, other aids, special software etc. and organising workshops, seminars, camps etc. 50 Assistance to employees/wards in need of special equipments etc 14. Miscellaneous 80 Support for improvement in holiday homes, rest houses, entertainment/ information facility Viz colour TV; electrical appliances/maintenance fund for recurring expenses on such facilities. Total 800/- - See more at: http://www.centralgovernmentnews.com/amendment-of-provisions-relating-to-railway-staff-benefit-fund/#sthash.dlIwfvZr.dpuf

5.	Recreation other than sports	32	Recreational facilities, purchase of gym equipments, employees’/wards’ holiday camps, study tours.
6.	Recreational facilities at institutes and Clubs etc.	36
7.	Promotion of Cultural Activities	16	Organizing cultural programmes in residential colonies, Divisions and schools and purchase/maintenance of instruments etc.
8.	Relief of distress, sickness, etc for staff in grade pay up to Rs.4600/	120	To grant higher amount of relief to employees in need such as immediate financial assistance to railway employees in accidents and for employees who are long sick and hospitalized for a long period and are on leave without pay: no leave (LAP or LHAP) is in his credit. Funeral charges for death of Railway employees be given at 10,000/- in each case.
9.	Sports activities	30	Encouraging sports by giving latest sports equipment and imparting training at schools, institutes and clubs
10.	Scouts & Guides activities	22	Augmentation of training facility all over railways
11.	Indigenous system of medicine including Homoeopathy	36
12.	Immediate relief in times of crisis arising out of floods, famines, landslides, fire or any other calamity	24
13.	Developing occupational .skills of physically/mentally challenged railway employees and their wards including purchase of wheel chairs, other aids, special software etc. and organising workshops, seminars, camps etc.	50	Assistance to employees/wards in need of special equipments etc
14.	Miscellaneous	80	Support for improvement in holiday homes, rest houses, entertainment/ information facility Viz colour TV; electrical appliances/maintenance fund for recurring expenses on such facilities.
	Total	800/-

Note: –(1) Allocation provided against Head/Activity at S.No.(1) (2) and (3) will also be utilized for financing the scheme of Cash award for wards of Railway employees for outstanding contribution in Academics & Sports as stipulated vide Annexure-I to Board’s letter No.E(W)2014/FU-1/1 dated 01-06-2015 (RBE No.54/2015.

(2) Note 3 below Clause (2) of Rule 805 may be substituted by the following:

Based on the overall per capita contribution of Rs.30/- for sports activities, sports allotments shall continue to be made by the Ministry of Railways in consultation with the Railway Sports Promotion Board, to the Zonal Railways/Production Units.

Allotment of Rs. 22/- for scouting activities will also be made by the Ministry of Railways. Rs. 24/- per capita allotted for “Immediate relief in times of crisis arising out of natural calamities” will be made from the “SBF Calamity Relief Fund” at the level of the Ministry of Railways. Therefore, allotment for Rs.76/- will be authorized centrally by Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) from sanctioned Budget allotments.

(Authority: Board’s letter No. E(W)2014/FU-l/1 dated 30.07.2014, 08.12.2014 and 01.06.2015)

INDIAN RAILWAY ESTABLISHMENT CODE VOLUME-I, 1985 EDITION

(Second Reprint Edition-2003)

CHAPTER-8

Railway Staff Benefit Fund

Advance Correction Slip No.127.

0) Clause (1) of Rule 805 may be substituted by the following:

In addition to the credits to the Fund detailed in Rule 804, there shall be credited to the fund on the 1st April of each financial year an annual grant from the revenues of the Railway at a per capita rate of Rs.800/- based on the sanctioned strength of non-gazetted Railway employees, permanent and temporary, as on the 31st March, posts charged to capital being excluded. The Fund shall be credited provisionally on the 1st April each year with an amount equal to the contribution for the previous year, the necessary adjustment being made as soon as the correct amount of the contribution has been determined. The distribution of Rs.800/- among different activities will be as under:

S. No	Head/activity	Allocation(in Rs)	Scope
1.	Education- Scholarship for Higher Technical/Professional education for wards of staff in grade pay of above Rs.2400/- and up to Rs.4200/- @ Rs. 1500/- pm.	116	For railway wards of employees in grade pay of above Rs.2400/- and upto Rs.4200/- pursuing higher technical/professional education.
2.	Scholarship for higher technical/professional education of Girl children of staff in grade pay up to Rs.2,400/-@ Rs.1500/- pm	28	Scholarship for pursuing technical/ professional diploma/degree for girl children of railway employees up to Rs.2400/- in grade pay
3.	Scholarship for higher technical/professional education of  Male children of staff in grade pay up to Rs.2,400/- @ Rs.1500/- pm	100	Scholarship for pursuing technical professional diploma/degree for male children of railway employees in grade pay up to Rs.2400/-
4.	Women empowerment activities including seminar, training programmes camps, and gender sensitization camps etc.	28	Giving support to creches, arrangements for safety of women railway employees & other initiatives taken by Railways.

Download Railway Board RBE No.125/2015 ACS No.127 No. E(W) 2010/FU-1/4 dated 12.10.201

5. Recreation other than sports 32 Recreational facilities, purchase of gym equipments, employees’/wards’ holiday camps, study tours. 6. Recreational facilities at institutes and Clubs etc. 36 7. Promotion of Cultural Activities 16 Organizing cultural programmes in residential colonies, Divisions and schools and purchase/maintenance of instruments etc. 8. Relief of distress, sickness, etc for staff in grade pay up to Rs.4600/ 120 To grant higher amount of relief to employees in need such as immediate financial assistance to railway employees in accidents and for employees who are long sick and hospitalized for a long period and are on leave without pay: no leave (LAP or LHAP) is in his credit. Funeral charges for death of Railway employees be given at 10,000/- in each case. 9. Sports activities 30 Encouraging sports by giving latest sports equipment and imparting training at schools, institutes and clubs 10. Scouts & Guides activities 22 Augmentation of training facility all over railways 11. Indigenous system of medicine including Homoeopathy 36 12. Immediate relief in times of crisis arising out of floods, famines, landslides, fire or any other
calamity 24 13. Developing occupational .skills of physically/mentally challenged railway employees and their wards including purchase of wheel chairs, other aids, special software etc. and organising workshops, seminars, camps etc. 50 Assistance to employees/wards in need of special equipments etc 14. Miscellaneous 80 Support for improvement in holiday homes, rest houses, entertainment/ information facility Viz colour TV; electrical appliances/maintenance fund for recurring expenses on such facilities. Total 800/- - See more at: http://www.centralgovernmentnews.com/amendment-of-provisions-relating-to-railway-staff-benefit-fund/#sthash.dlIwfvZr.dpuf