AIRF to conduct secret ballot proposing Indefinite Strike against 7th CPC report

AIRF to conduct secret ballot proposing Indefinite Strike against 7th CPC report

AIRF will conduct a secret ballot on February 11 and 12 to decide the date and future course of action (on strike) – Shiv Gopal Mishra, AIRF General Secretary

All-India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) threatened to go ‘Indefinite Strike’ against the Seventh Pay Commission report.

“We will conduct a secret ballot on February 11 and 12 to decide the date and future course of action (on strike),” AIRF General Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said here today.

He said if railway employees will cast their votes in favour of launching indefinite strike then we will go for it and accordingly a date would be announced.

Mishra said their demands also include review of new pension scheme and filling up of large number of vacant posts in the railways.

Mishra differed with the Seventh Pay Commission reports and said “the minimum wage should be increased from Rs 18,000 per month to Rs 26,000.”

According to the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, there would be an additional burden of Rs 32,000 crore on railways and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has described it as “unbearable”.

Mishra also said, there were about 2.5 lakh posts including those of loco pilots, assistant station masters and track men lying vacant in railways.

On new pension scheme, he said, “it should be reviewed as there are many anomalies in it. We want the guaranteed pension scheme should be implemented.”

In order to make the proposed agitation a success, Mishra said a sustained awareness campaign will be launched from January 25 to February 10.

Source : AIRF

Reserve Bank of India has issued a circular on Payment of Agency Commission on pension accounts

Reserve Bank of India has issued a circular on Payment of Agency Commission on pension accounts

RBI has clarified that agency banks are being compensated at Rs. 65 per transaction for handling pension computation, payment and related services on behalf of Central and State Governments up to 14 transactions per year. So, splitting up transaction for earning more commission by banks is not permitted.

Reserve Bank circular on Payment of Agency Commission on pension accounts – Transaction in pension more than allowed numbers would not fetch agency commission

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

RBI/2015-16/294

DGBA.GAD.No. 2278/31.12.010/2015-16

January 21, 2016

The Chairman & Managing Director/
The Chief Executive Officer
All Agency Banks

Dear Sir/Madam

Payment of Agency Commission on pension accounts

As you may be aware, agency banks are being compensated at Rs. 65 per transaction for handling pension computation, payment and related services on behalf of Central and State Governments. As per the norms followed by the Government, a pensioner’s account should not have more than 14 credit transactions in a calendar year attributable to pension and related arrear payments, if any.

2. It has however come to our notice that certain banks are apportioning payment of arrears on account of Dearness Relief (DR) and/or delay in start of pension monthwise, thus, resulting in inflated agency commission claims. It is reiterated that number of commisionable transactions for payment of agency commission on account of pension in a year should not exceed 14. This includes one monthly credit for payment of net pension and a maximum of two per year for payment of arrears on account of increase in DR, if applicable.

3. It is also reiterated that cases involving payment of arrears on account of late start/restart of pension qualifies as a single transaction for claiming of agency commission. In other words, any payment of arrears on account of late start/restart of pension should be effected in a single credit transaction instead of separate monthly credits.

4. Some of the Central Government Departments and State Governments prefer to compute the pension figures on their own and pass them on to banks for payment. Such transactions may be included under non-pension payments, on which agency commission is payable on a turnover basis as per the existing norms (currently at 5.5 paise per Rs. 100/-).

Yours faithfully
(Manish Parashar)
Deputy General Manager

Download RBI Circular RBI/2015-16/294 DGBA.GAD.No. 2278/31.12.010/2015-16 dated 21.01.2016

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)

Click to view the Copy of the BSNL Clarification

7th Pay Commission – Hike the Basic Minimum pay by 44% – Review the Salaries after every 5 years – Unions

7th Pay Commission – Hike the Basic Minimum pay by 44% – Review the Salaries after every 5 years – Unions

The brewing discontent amongst the central government employees is threatening to create a storm and disrupt the implementation process. The unions are asking around 44% hike on the basic minimum pay and review the salaries every 5 years.

7th Pay Commission – Hike the Basic Minimum pay by 44% – The unions had staged a 3-day agitation earlier in January, and even threatened to strike work for longer period.

Implementing the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) is not going to be a cakewalk for the government.

The brewing discontent amongst the central government employees is threatening to create a storm and disrupt the implementation process. The unions are asking around 44 percent hike on the basic minimum pay suggested by the 7th Central Pay Commission.

The 7thCPC had recommended the minimum pay at Rs 18,000 and the maximum pay at Rs 250,000, but the employee unions wants the minimum pay to be hikes from Rs 18,000 per month to Rs 26,000–a rise of around 44.4 percent.

The unions also said that the pay panel has recommended the lowest hike in basic pay since independence.

The unions argue that pay scales vary from states to states. They also want the minimum pay to be applied across all the states in the country.

The Central government employees’ unions have not only demanded to increase the minimum pay of central government employees, but also want government to review the salaries of central government employees after every 5 years instead of the current 10 years.

The previous 6th Central Pay Commission had recommended a 20 percent hike, which the government had doubled while implementing it in 2008. However, the present government is on the look out for a way to somehow influence negatively, the already employee negative 7th cpc recommendations.

The unions have upped the ante on salary hike since the government set up empowered committee of secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary earlier in January to process the recommendations of the 7th CPC.

The unions had staged a 3-day agitation earlier in January, and even threatened to strike work for longer period.

Source: Zee News

Travelling Allowance on training period while on Probation

DoPT clarifies that no Travelling Allowance may be allowed to the probationers for the onward journey for joining the training institute and while they are taken to outstation for training activity

DoPT OM on Admissibility of Travelling Allowance (TA) and other expenditure incurred while on training by the Government Servants on probation

Department of Personnel and Training has issued an OM regarding Admissibility of Travelling Allowance (TA).

No.T-25014/1/2016-TRG(ISTM Section)

Government of India
Ministry Of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training
(Training Division)

 Old JNU Campus, Block IV,
New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi – 110 067
Dated: 21st January, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Admissibility of Travelling Allowance (TA) and other expenditure incurred while on training by the Government Servants on probation.

Institute of Secretariat Training and Management (ISTM) is conducting Foundation Training Course of newly recruited Assistant Section Officers (DR) and Stenographers (DR). ISTM has received number of references from various Ministries and Departments, requesting for clarification, whether the expenditure incurred by trainee Assistants, now re-designated as Assistant Section Officers, for their boarding, lodging etc. while undergoing Foundation Training, under the aegis of ISTM can be reimbursed to them. Representations have also been received from Assistant Section Officers, through their administrative Ministries in this regard.

2. The matter has been examined in consultation with the IFD(MHA) with reference to the Supplementary Rules 164 and instructions issued by the Government from time to time under the aforesaid Rules, which govern claims of Travelling Allowances while on training by probationers. The rule position is clarified as under:-

    (i) No Travelling Allowance may be allowed for the onward journey for joining the training institute;

    (ii) No Travelling Allowance may be allowed to the probationers while they are taken for outstation for training activity;

    (iii) Probationers have to pay boarding /lodging /transport charges, if any, from their pocket.

    (iv) No daily allowance may be admissible.

    (v) One side TA may be allowed to the participants while reporting for duty in the allocated Ministry/Department on completion of the Training Programme from an outstation Institute, which are located at Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Shimla and Jaipur, where such training is being conducted by ISTM at present, or any other State Training Institute, which may be identified later, outside NCR.

3. All Ministries/Departments of Government of India are, therefore, advised to decide the claims made by Assistant Section Offices in respect of reimbursement of expenditure by them for boarding/lodging and other transport charges during the period of their Foundation Training conducted by ISTM, in accordance with the provisions contained at para (2) of this O.M. In case, any reimbursement has already been made, the same may be recovered immediately.

4. This issues with the concurrence with the IFD(MHA), vide their Dy. No. 299/Fin.II/15, dated 31.12.2015.

(O.P.Chawla)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Download DoPT OM No.T-25014/1/2016-TRG(ISTM Section) dated 21.01.2016

Facilitation Fee levied by authorized travel agents on Air Tickets

PCA (Fys) Kolkata Circular on Facilitation Fee levied by authorized travel agents for air tickets booked on Government account.

Office of the PCA (Fys) Kolkata, has issued an important Circular on Facilitation Fee levied by authorized travel agents on air tickets book on Government account

Important Circular

Office of the PCA (Fys) Kolkata,
10A, S. K. Bose Road,
Kolkata -700001

NO.2078/AN-VIII/TA/LTC/BL

Dated: 20/1/2016

Sub: Facilitation Fee levied by authorized travel agents on air tickets book on Government account

A copy of GOI, MoF, DoE, OM no. 19024/1/2012-E-IV, dated 5/9/2014 on the above subject along with M/s Balmer Lawrie Co. Ltd. Letter dated 3/11/2015 is forwarded herewith for your information and guidance, please.

Nabarun Dhar

Jt. C of A.(Fys)

No.19024/1/2012-E-lV

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
North Block, New Delhi.

 Dated the 5th September, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject- ‘Facilitation Fee’ levied by authorised travel agents on air tickets booked on Government account – Withdrawal regarding.

    Attention is invited to this Department’s O.M of even number dated 10th October 2013 wherein the authorized travel agents namely M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL) M/s ,Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) were allowed to levy ‘Facilitation Fee’ @ Rs.100/- per ticket for domestic sector and Rs.300/- per ticket for international sector for air travel. Wherein Government of India bears the cost of air passage.

    2. The issue has been re-examined in consolation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Department of Legal Affairs in the light of provisions of the Air craft’s Rules,1937, as amended from time to time and it has been decided to Withdraw this Department’s O.M of even number dated 10th October 2013 with immediate effect. Consequently, no service charges (by whatever nomenclature), which are not included in the tariff charged by Air India / Airlines, are required to be paid to the authorized travel agents.

    3. payment to the authorized travel agents for the Bills raised by them for air tickets produced/ purchased till date in respect of air travel already undertaken or due to be undertaken would be regulated as per O.M of even number dated 10.10.2013. it is reiterated that as far as possible air tickets on Government account may be obtained directly from Air India/ Airlines (booking counter/offices/website) and if obtaining tickets directly from Air India/ Airlines is not possible should the services of authorized travel agents be availed of.

    4. All Ministries/Departments are advised to bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned from compliance.

(Subhash Chand)
Director

Balmer Lawrie
TOURS & TRAVEL

Date: November 03, 2015

To
Principal Controller of Accounts (FYS)
10A, S K Bose Road
Kolkata – 700001

Kind attention: Mr. Nabarun Dhar, JT. Controller of Accounts (AN)

Dear Sir,

Kindly refer to your letter ref. no. 2078/ AN-VIII/TA-DA/BL dated 16/10/15, please note that in accordance with GOI, MoF, DoE OM no. 19024/1/2012-E.IV, dated 5/09/2014, we are not charging any Service Charge/Facilitation Fee/ Processing Fee etc. in our bill.

But SERVICE TAX, EDU. Cess, & High Edu. Cess, are Govt. Statutory Taxes which are chargeable if you purchase any ticket from an agency and we are regularly depositing this Service Taxes to the service tax authority vide service tax registration no. AABCB0984EST047, which is already mentioned in our bill.

Hence you are kindly requested to make payment of service taxes accordingly.

Thanking you.
Yours faithfully,
for Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd.,
(S. Nath)
Sr. Branch Manager (Travel & Vacations).

Download PCA (Fys) Circular NO.2078/AN-VIII/TA/LTC/BL dated 20.01.2016