NFIR - Reduction of Duty Hours and revision of classification of Engineering & Traffic Gate-man as "Continuous"

NFIR

No.IV/HOER/3/2006 (DC)/HPC

Dated: 08/05/2018

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Reduction of Duty Hours and revision of classification of Engineering & Traffic Gate-man as "Continuous"-reg.

Ref:
(i) NFIR's PNM Item No.31/2015 & 34/2016.
(ii) NFIR's letter No.IV/HOER/4 dated 04/05/2017 & 2/05/2017

Through the Action Taken Statement (during NFIR's PNM meeting held with the Railway Board on 13/14-11-2017) it was conveyed that instructions have been issued vide letter No. 2012/E(LL)/HER/23 dated 30/09/2016 to conduct job analysis on duty hours of Gate Keepers.

In this connection, Federation invites kind attention of the Railway Board to its PNM Agenda Item No.31/2015 wherein NFIR demanded that duty hours of all safety category staff in EI category, specially the Gate Keeper should be reduced irrespective of the distance of quarter/residence of the employee from the work place (Para 5.5.5 of the recommendations of High Power Committee/R&S refers). Federation also highlighted Para 5.5.6 of the same report wherein the HPC (R&S) had recommended that on high density routes where the number of trains in each direction are more than 72 (on double line sections) or more than 24 (on singly line sections) no safety category staff (excepting the shunting staff) should be classified as EI category.

Federation conveys that the instructions issued by the Railway Board vide letter dated 30th September, 2016 asking the Zonal Railway Administration to conduct "factual job analysis" for deciding classification/duty hours of Gate Keepers, is not enough as there has been no positive results though over 1 1/2 years have passed.

Apart from above, Federation vide its letters dated 04/05/2017 & 24/05/2017 brought cases of Gate Keepers (Engineering) who are forced to perform 12 hours duty continuously day or night. Federation however feels sad to mention that there has been no response from the Railway Board so far.

NFIR, therefore once again urges upon the Railway Board to look into the genuine demand for reduction of duty and revision of classification of Engineering and Traffic Gate Keepers as "continuous" under HOER and issue instructions to the Zonal Railways accordingly as recommended by the HPC/R&S. A copy of instructions issued may be endrosed to the Federation.

Yours faithfully,
S/d,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR