Minutes of JCM Meeting with Chairmanship of JS(Army) on 9.3.2018 - INDWF
Most Immediate
JCM Matter
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Defence
D(JCM)
Subject:-
'Minutes'
of the JCM Meeting held under the Chairmanship of JS (Army) on
09.03.2018 at 4.00 PM on the Notice of the 3 Recognized Federations of
Ministry of Defence for holding meeting to discuss issues/demands of
Defence Civilian Employees
A copy of the Minutes of the Meeting held under the Chairmanship of JS (Army) on 09.03.2018 on the above subject, is enclosed.
2.All
the addressees are requested that the same may be gone through and an
immediate action may be initiated in the matter and the Action Taken
Report (ATR)/views/comments on all point(s) mentioned against each
Section/HQ/Orgns, may be forwarded to D(JCM) Section in the form of a
'self-contained note' , with the approval of the JS/HOD/HOO concerned.
3.In
those cases where action on certain point(s) is/are going on and not
yet finalized, the progress arrived at so far may be furnished from time
to time to D(JCM) Section till finalization of the case.
sd/-
(Pawan Kumar)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Telefax: 2301 1260
Minutes
of the Meeting held on 09.03.2018 under the Chairmanship of JS (Army)
discuss the issues/demands of the three recognized Federations of
Ministry of Defence
A meeting was convened under the
Chairmanship of JS (Army) to discuss the issues raised by the Forum
consisting of recognized Federations of Trade Unions of Defence Civilian
Employees/Workers vide their notice dated 19th February, 2018 for
holding ‘Call Attention Strike’ on 15th March, 2018. JS(LS) was also
present in the meeting. The list of participants is attached.
At
the outset, the representatives of Federations, and members of the
Official Side were introduced to the Chairperson. Thereafter, the Agenda
Points were taken up for discussion.
Demands:
1. To withdraw the decision to declare 250 items being manufactured by Ordnance Factories as "Non-Core".
2. To not declare 39 items of DEF Group of Factories as Non-Core items.
3. To withdraw the Govt. order to grant uniform Allowance to the soldiers in place of stitched uniforms.
Discussion: The 3 Federation Representatives submitted the following views:
In
the interest of the Army and their qualitative requirement of troop
comfort items like Army Logo Uniforms, various types of battle dress,
parachutes, blankets, boots, tents, jerseys, etc. the 5 OEF Group of
Factories should continue to remain with the same product profile and
the infrastructure and facilities available should not be dismantled,
since these factories are war reserve and huge money is invested in
these factories and that should not go as waste/scrap. In the past
several times Army has gone to private sector for procurement of these
items in the name of cost. However, the experience is that since the
private sector has failed in quality and timely supply the Army has
again come back to the OEF Group of Factories. Therefore, these
factories should not be distributed resulting in its closure in the name
of non-core and outsourcing. According to the Federations, all these
items are core items only. The Federations are of the view that the past
experience of the Army will be repeated and if these established
facilities are not readily available when the Army fail in procurement
of these items from private sector at that point of time then again
re-building those facilities of producing troop comfort items will be
very difficult. In spite of all these facts even then if the Government
is keen in outsourcing these items, the employees of these factories
should not be displaced/transferred. The Government may come with a road
map to decide about the future products to be manufactured in these
factories then employees may be trained and placed in the same factory
without disturbing them in their seniority, future promotion and
protection of wages etc. and also for retaining the skill by recruitment
of trained apprentices. The Federations also expressed their deep
concern about the workload and the future of Small Arms Group of
Factories, Vehicle Factory and GIF, Jabalpur and HAPP Trichy. They
requested that a positive decision in this regard may be taken by the
Government to provide sufficient workload to these factories. They also
requested that the indent for the workload of 2018-19 of the OEF Group
of Factories may be immediately issued since due to non-receipt of
indent, the factories are not able to place supply orders for raw
materials. They also requested that the reduced expenditure budget of
Rupees more than 3,000 crores may be restored to the Ordnance Factories
in the interest of completion of target. The Federations also insisted
that the battle field dress like Army Logo Uniforms, Jerseys, etc.
should not be included in the Uniform Allowance.
Official Side:
Responding to the Federations, JS(LS) mentioned that all of us are proud
of achievements of OFB and the aim of the policy is to make the
organization lean and effective. The capabilities of the private sector
has improved with the progress made in the country. There are issues
regarding indents of forces not being fulfilled. The intention of the
Government is to concentrate on the core sector. A road map/time frame
has been given by the Government for developing vendor base. The road
map for redeployment of employees will be given for implementation by
the Ordnance Factory Board. The steps initiated are towards improving
the future of the Ordnance Factories. He assured that the reduction made
in the expenditure budget of approximate Rs. 3000 crores is likely to
be restored. Further, he assured that no factory will be closed and no
employee will be retrenched. As far as possible, efforts will be made
not to dislodge the employees from their existing factories/ place of
posting. In case after the stipulated period the Army do not place
indent for the existing items, then appropriate training of staff for
redeployment would be considered. JS(LS) concluded that new
opportunities are opening and needs to be utilized by the Ordnance
Factories so that the organization grows and scales new heights.
JS(Army) stated that the items which are included in the Uniform
Allowance is being examined and will be clarified, and the case is under
process for releasing the indents for the next financial year for the
allotted workload. JS(LS) also stated that VFJ is loaded with
manufacturing of Mine-Protected Vehicle and often the factory is not
able to deliver the same (the Federations representatives stated that
the same is due to non-availability of raw materials etc). JS (LS) also
assured about the future workload of Small Arms Factories.
Demands:-
4. To withdraw the decision to convert Army Base Workshops into GOCO Model.
5. To withdraw the decision to close 4 Depots under the DGOS.
6. To withdraw the decision to close 39 Military Farms.
7. To withdraw the decision to declare 31012 employees surplus.
Discussion: The representatives of the Federations reiterated that the
implementation of GOCO Model in the Army Base Workshop, closure of
Station Workshops, Depots under DG:OS and Military Farms may be
reconsidered by the Government and the decision declaring more than
31,000 employees surplus and the proposed action to displace/transfer
them may be reconsidered/withdrawn and those employees should not be
disturbed from their place of works. In MES, the E-in-C has taken action
for filling up of 17,000 posts through Direct Recruitment and hence
there is no surplus in MES and the above posts may be filled up
immediately without any delay.
Official Side: JS (Army) assured that
no employee will be retrenched and the effect of GOCO Model on
employees of Army Base Workshops and the manpower requirement of MES
would be considered. As far as possible, all efforts will be made to not
dislodge the employees from their existing workshops, depots and MES.
In case of redeployment becomes necessary, appropirate training will be
given to the employees to retain them in the same unit. As regards the
concern of the Federations with regard to the surplus of employees, it
will be our endeavour that employees are not subjected to hardships.
Demand:
8 Undue delay in holding the DPC for effecting promotions based on the
Cadre Restructuring of various categories of DGQA approved by the
Government.
Official Side: JS(LS) assured that the matter will be
examined and necessary instructions issued for holding of DPCs and
effecting promotions in DGQA.
The other demands of the Federations
were not taken up in the meeting and it was assured that regular
meeting will be held with the Federations to discuss these issues and
the process of implementation of the assurance given would be monitored.
Conclusion:
JS (Army) concluded the meeting stating that the views of the
Federations will be placed before the higher authorities in the
Ministry. He also reiterated the assurance given by JS (LS) that no
factory will be closed and no employee will be retrenched. As far as
possible, efforts will be made not to dislodge the employees from their
existing factories/place of posting. In case after the stipulated period
the Army do not place target/indent for those items declared as
non-core to the Ordnance Factories then appropriate training for
redeployment would be considered. Therefore, he requested the
Federations that considering the goodwill of the Government and its
commitment towards the welfare of the employees to withdraw the Notice
for Call Attention Strike on 15.03.2018. The leaders of the Federations
stated that in view of the assurance given, they will deliberate and
consider the decision to withdraw the proposed Call Attention Strike on
15.03.2018 after receipt of the Minutes of the Meeting.
The
Federations once again reiterated that in the interest of National
Security as the country maintains the Armed Forces, the Defence
Establishments also should be maintained, strengthened and the interest
of civilian employees should also be protected.
The meeting ended with the vote of thanks to the Chair.
Source: INDWF
