DoPT Order: Central Government employees proposed protesting against the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and to demand hike in Minimum pay and fitment factor under the 7th CPC

DoPT Order: Central Government employees proposed protesting against the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and to demand hike in Minimum pay and fitment factor under the 7th CPC

No.45018/1/2017-Vig.
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi,
Dated the 26th March, 2019

Subject: Proposed Protest by Government Employees from March 15, 2019 to March 30, 2019 to protest against National Pension Scheme (NPS) and to demand hike in Minimum pay and fitment factor under 7th Central Pay Commission - Instructions under CCS (Conduct Rules), 1964 - Regarding.

It has been brought to the notice of the Government that a forum by the nomenclature of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) has decided to organize protest from March 15, 2019 to March 30, 2019 to protest against National Pension Scheme (NPS) and to demand hike in Minimum pay and fitment factor under 7th Central Pay Commission

The instructions issued by the Department of Personnel and Training prohibit the Government servants from participating in any form of strike/protest including mass casual leave, go slow etc. or any action that abet any form of strike/protest in violation of Rule 7 of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Besides, in accordance with the proviso to Rule 17(I) of the Fundamental Rules, pay and allowances is not admissible to an employee for his absence from duty without any authority. As to the concomitant rights of an Association after it is formed, they cannot be different from the rights which can be claimed by the individual members of which the Association is composed. It follows that the right to form an Association does not include any guaranteed right to strike/protest.

There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court has also agreed in several judgements that going on a strike/performing any sort of protest is a grave misconduct under the Conduct Rules and that misconduct by the Government employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with law. Any employee going on strike/protest in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action. Kind attention of all employees of this Department is also drawn to this Department’s O.M. No.33012/1/(S)/2008 Estt.(B) dated 12.9.2008, on the subject for strict compliance (enclosed as Annexure-A).

All officers are requested that the above instructions may be brought to the notice of the employees working under their control. All officers are also requested not to sanction Casual Leave or any other kind of leave to the officers and employees, if applied for, during the period of proposed Dharna/demonstration, and ensure that the willing employees are allowed hindrance free entry into the office premises.

In case employees go on protest anytime during the period 15.03.2019 to 30.03.2019, all Divisional Heads are requested to forward a report indicating the number and details of employees, who are absent from duty during the period of said protest, i.e. from 15.03.2019 to 30.03.2019.

Sd/-
(Juglal Singh)
Deputy Secretary

Source: DoPT

Central Government should increase Minimum Pay and Fitment formula - Karnataka COC

Revision of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula due to increased revenue collections of the Central Government

Comrades,
Today none of the 7th CPC related demands of Central Government Employees are settled. The assurance given by the Group of Ministers to the NJCA leaders regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is in paper even after a lapse of 20 months. Now the Finance Minister has replied in Parliament that "no change in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is at present under consideration".

To avert the 11th July CG employees strike the Hon'ble Prime Minster had instructed the group of Hon'ble Ministers including Shri Rajnath Singhji, Hon'ble Home Minister, Shri Suresh Prabhuji , Hon'ble Railway Minister and Shri Arun Jaitelyji , Hon'ble Finance Minister to hold discussions with the Staff Side (JCM) on 30th June 2016 and the Shri Arun Jaitelyji , Hon'ble Finance Minister had published a written assurances in the Government website on 6th July 2016 leading to deferment of the strike .

Pay Commission Objective: It is the endeavour of every pay commission to ensure that the pay and allowances of employees should be ‘fair and reasonable'. The pay structure should also motivate the employees to reasonable levels of performance in the tasks assigned to them, so that the general public derive the benefit of their service as intended.

Our demand of revision of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is quite justified.

Comparison of earlier wage hike we can observe that the fitment factor of 2.57 times is the lowest comparing to other pay commissions. If we make a study of earlier pay commission.

Pay Commission	Year	Minimum wage ( old )	Minimum wage (revised)	Increase
2nd CPC	1959	Rs 55/-	Rs 80/-	1.45 times
3rd CPC	1973	Rs 80/-	Rs 196/-	2.45 times
4th CPC	1986	Rs 196/-	Rs 750/-	3.82 times
5th CPC	1996	Rs 750/-	Rs 2550/-	3.40 times
6th CPC*	2006	Rs 2550/-	Rs 7000/-	2.74 times
7th CPC *	2016	Rs 7000/-	Rs 18000/-	2.57 times

Comparative picture of pay of Central Government and State Government in regards to minimum wage as on 1.7.2017

Many of the State Governments are following the Central Government pay scales, but a few state Governments have improved upon the Central Government pay scales. The examples are as under:

Government Agency	Group "D" Basic pay in Rs	Add Skill 25% from Group "D" to Group "C"	Group "C" Basic Pay in Rs	DA%	Add DA Amount in  Rs	Basic Pay in Group "C" in Rs
Govt. of India		Nil	18000	5	900	18900
AndhraPradesh &  Telangana	13000	3250	16250	24.1	3916	20166
Kerala	16500	4125	20625	14	2887	23512
Karnataka	17000	4250	21250	Nil		21250

The financial position of the Central Government is very good. Even the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has shown increase in last few years which is around 7% , the Indian economy is fastest growing and placed 7th in the world ( which is at 2,250.987 billions of $ ), comparing to wages paid in the world our wages are at lower level. The Government fiscal budget deficit equal to 3.50 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2016. Compared to 2008 where the fiscal deficit was at 7.8%, but today the fiscal deficit is contained at 3.5%. This is also a healthy sign of the economic status of the Central Government financial status, the budget fiscal deficit is always below 4%.

Direct tax collections in 2017-18 at Rs 9.95 lakh crore, exceeded the revised budgetary target of Rs 9.8 lakh crore. Also, 6.84 crore income tax returns filed in the year against 5.43 crore in the previous year signalling a rise of 26% . A net of 99.5 lakh new assesses were added to the tax net.

Net collection from corporate tax went up 17.1 per cent while that from personal income tax rose 18.9%.

The revenue collection from Goods and Services Tax (GST) exceeded Rs 1 lakh crore in April 2018, GST revenue collected in April 2018 came at Rs 1,03,458 crore.

With the improved economic climate, introduction of e-way bill and improved GST compliance, GST collections would continue to show a positive trend.

The wage bill of the Central Government on in its employees is less than 10% or 3.4% of the GDP, which is less compared to various countries world wide.

Vacancy of the Central Government is about 15% , more than 4 lakhs vacancies are existing in the Central Government the work load is being carried out by the existing employees. The Government being a model employer should pay for its employees and motivate them to work more for implementation of its policies.

Hence due to the improved revenue earning of the Central Government, as assured to the staff side JCM by the Group of Ministers in respect of increase of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula, the Central Government should increase the Minimum Pay and Fitment formula.

Source: COC Karnataka

7th Pay Commission Employees unions to meet today on minimum pay hike

7th Pay Commission: Employees unions to meet today on minimum pay hike

Central government employees unions leaders will meet today to discuss their demand of minimum pay hike.

It will be the meeting of the Standing Committee Members of Staff Side, National Council JCM over the demand of hiking minimum pay beyond the 7th Pay Commission recommendation.

National Council (staff Side) Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) is an umbrella organisation of various Central Government employees’ unions, including Railways, post and telegraph and Income Tax.

In wake of DoPT letter letter, Shiva Gopal Mishra, Secretary National council (staff Side), Joint Consultative Machinery has called for the meeting to give proper reply to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

DoPT letter dated October 30, addressed to Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary, Staff Side, National Council JCM stating that the demand for increase in minimum Pay and fitment formula do not appear to be treated as an anomaly, therefore, these do not come under the purview of National Anomaly Committee (NAC).

However, National Anomaly Committee (NAC) has been formed in September, 2016 to look into pay anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations and the government had said the NAC would discuss any pay hike agenda.

Earlier, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had promised with central government employees unions’ leaders in Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s house on June 30, 2016 for hiking Pay and fitment formula through the appoint of a High Level Committee, when the unions had threatened to carry out an indefinite strike on July 11, 2016.

The High Level Committee has not yet been constituted, while the Cabinet cleared the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on June 29, 2016.

Shiva Gopal Mishra Secretary National council (staff Side) JCM is also planning to meet PM Modi to raise the minimum pay hike issue before him.

Accordingly, he said, “We have faith in Prime Minister’s office, we have faith in PM Modi. We are sure that in order to maintain good industrial relations in the country, PM Modi will find an alternate solution.”

Media reports already stated that minimum pay and fitment factor beyond 7th Pay Commission recommendation was under consideration of the Central government and NAC was likely to recommend minimum pay hike to Rs 21,000 from existing Rs 18,000 and fitment factor to 3.00 times from existing 2.57 times, but DoPT letter now says minimum pay and fitment factor doesn’t come under the purview of the NAC.

The Unions have been demanding minimum pay Rs. 26,000 instead of Rs 18,000 with 3.68 fitment factor.

TST

Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor Stories suddenly ended in anticlimax

Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor Stories suddenly ended in anticlimax

"There is no scope for them anymore to continue this story and decided to end this up with the note of 'there is no scope for change in Minimum Pay'.

There is a strong reason to come up with the title for this article as 'Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor Stories suddenly ended in anticlimax'. Because many websites kept writing that Minimum Pay will be increased to Rs.21000 in January 2018. As we didn't find any truth in that stories we haven't said anything about this as it may lead the people to have false hope. Instead, we published 4 articles which claimed firmly that there was no such proposal under consideration of Government.
Finally those who cooked up a story entitled 'Govt to Announce Minimum Pay Increase to Rs.21000' and writing about it on day to day basis, have come forward to end this story with a note of No Scope for change in Minimum Pay. Because they clearly know it was a fake news. But some news websites who believed that this cooked up story might be true, started writing numerous article about increasing of minimum pay from Rs.18000 to Rs. 21000 and said "Good news would come after January 2018"

As January 2018 is nearing, people started asking the Leaders of Unions and Associations the following questions. is it true? Is there any proposal as such under consideration of Central government? The NC JCM Staff Side Leaders hesitated to answer this question because they were afraid of that any negative reply will backfire them.

But there was no sign of announcing Minimum Pay increase. The rumour mongers smelled the frustration of Government servants on Minimum Pay increase as it is not going to happen in January 2018 . So they started writing again that Minimum Pay will be increased after April 2018 as Anomaly Committee is going to submit its report to the Government on Minimum Pay issue after January 2018.

Now all the bridges to Minimum wage issue are burnt for them after DoPT has clearly said in its Letter to NCJCM Staff Side that the issue of Minimum Pay Increase and Revising Fitment Factor and Allowances effect date are not anomalies. According to the DOPT Letter No. F.No.11/2/2016-JCA-1(Pt.) dated 30th October, 2017, it is stated that these three important issues are not in accord with the three postulates which, as described in DoPT's 0M. No. 11/2/2016-JCA dated 16th August, 2016 and 20th February, 2017 for treating them as Anomaly.

So Minimum pay and Fitment Factor issue will not be treated as a case of anomaly and it will not be taken up in national Anomaly Committee for discussion.

So there is no scope for them anymore to continue this story and decided to end this up with the note of 'there is no scope for change in Minimum Pay'.

But the Committee which is constituted to Examine the Demand of revising Minimum Pay has not held any meeting to discuss this important issue. And also, it was stated in the DoPT's Letter that Effect date of Allowances should be decided by the Central Government and hence the NC JCM Staff Side should take up this issue to the Government.

So the ways and means for settling these issues are not ruled out yet. Now it is up to the Federations, to what extent they are serious to pursue this issue to get this done either through negotiated settlement or protest.

7th Pay Commission: Will government raise minimum pay?

7th Pay Commission: Will government raise minimum pay?

The pay rise, the finance ministry says, should take place in January, and would mean a pay rise for 4.8 million central government employees and 5.5 million pensioners. If the government decides to implement the rise, which it may do after the completion of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assemblies poll process, it would be the second successive pay hike, and would bring the real value of the minimum pay back in line.

A top Finance Ministry official, who did not wish to be named, indicated the government will be taking the proposal seriously, but cannot implement the pay rise now, it will be decided after the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assemblies elections.

This would represent minimum pay rise of Rs 21,000 for central government employees. If this recommendation were accepted, the value of the minimum pay would be higher than the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission of Rs 18,000 and the government is now making good progress towards restoring the value it lost during the previous period of its cabinet nod, he said.

The National Anomaly Committee (NAC), which has been formed to look into pay anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission's recommendations, has to strike a delicate balance between what is fair for employees and what is affordable for the government, without costing jobs. It does so impartially and without political interference. It is important that it is able to complete to do its work before Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, he added.

A rise in the minimum pay would be a good political move for the BJP, as it would bolster their argument on the cost of living debate for benefit poor and middle class, where Congress said that Modi government gave India achhe din with a broken GST and failed note ban.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has killed the country's economy by firing "double tap" shots of note ban and GST into it, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said.

The economic experts are also worried about the GST and note ban’s effect on exchequer. If such a situation is not chaos, then how is government going to implement minimum pay Rs 21,000?

But the official has said that it is possible for the minimum pay to jump up to Rs 21,000 with fitment factor 3.00 to reap political gains for BJP in future, but such a rise is less likely now the the central government employees unions’ demanding for hiking minimum to Rs 26,000 with fitment factor 3.68. If fitment formula is tinkered with 3.00, the salary and pension in general for all segments of employees will go up.

Earlier, the government had given nod minimum pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000 per month with fitment factor 2.57 on the recommendations of the 7th pay commission. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had also promised to raise minimum pay in a meeting with the central government employees unions leaders on June 30, 2016, the day after the cabinet approval of the 7th Pay Commission's recommendations.

TST

7th Pay Commission: Government till not clear about minimum pay

7th Pay Commission: Government till not clear about minimum pay

New Delhi: Finance Ministry top official surprised his colleagues by enquiring whether central government employees' minimum pay improved if they got the much-talked-about minimum pay and hike in basic pay.
The official asked the question in a comment that he wrote on a note sent to him by the central government employees through National Joint Council of Action (NJCA).

In its note, the NJCA requested the ministry to hike the minimum pay in the central government employees' pay structure.

The 7th Pay Commission recommended a minimum basic pay for Central government employees of Rs 18,000 with a maximum pay of Rs 2.50 lakh per month.

However, the NJCA is demanding for hike in minimum pay Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000, which is now under consideration by the National Anomaly Committee.

"The government used to think that minimum pay under the 7th Pay Commission recommendation did not change central government employees' pay structure. Please discuss," the ministry wrote on the NJCA note and forwarded to the National Anomaly Committee.

The note of NJCA, informed the ministry that they their status in the new pay scale was lower than what it was in the previous scale. The note also said that the 7th Pay Commission made the pay gap of lower paid employees and top bureaucrats higher about to 1:14 ratio from 1:12 in the previous pay structure.

In last year, when the new pay scale was given nod by the cabinet, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had assured unions leaders of central government employees in the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's house that the pay gap should be minimized.

Finance Ministry's comment on the note came as a shock to many central government employees, particularly because it comes after above one year of the new pay structure had been implemented.
"We are shocked to know that our ministry does not show interest in the hike in minimum pay," a finance ministry official said seeking anonymity.

"If FM also does not show interest in it, then I wonder how, in the first place, he supported to hike in minimum pay," he said.

The notification for the new pay scale was issued on July 25, 2016 and it was implemented for 5.2 million central government employees with retrospective effect from January 1, 2016.

TST

Revise allowances including HRA with effect from 01.01.2016 - Mass Dharna 23rd MAY 2017

Revise allowances including HRA with effect from 01.01.2016 - Mass Dharna 23rd MAY 2017

MASS DHARNA IN FRONT OF FINANCE MINISTER'S OFFICE, NEW DELHI
EMPLOYEES & PENSIONERS COME IN LARGE NUMBERS
AND MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS

HONOUR THE ASSURANCE GIVEN BY GROUP OF MINISTERS ON 30.06.2016

• Increase minimum pay and fitment formula.
• Revise allowances including HRA with effect from 01.01.2016.
• Grant option-I pension parity recommended by 7th CPC.
• Revise pension and grant dearness relief to autonomous body pensioners
• Implement positive recommendations of Kamlesh Chandra Committee on Gramin Dak Sevaks. Grant Civil Servant Status.
• Regularise all Casual, Part-Time, Contingent and Contract Workers and grant equal pay for equal work.
• Remove stringent conditions imposed for grant of MACP etc.

All affiliated organisations and COCs are once again requested to mobilise large number of employee and pensioners as per quota fixed in the last circular and make the programme a grand success.

S/d,
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob& WhatsApp - 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Source - http://confederationhq.blogspot.in

7th CPC Pension Calculation: Option-1 recommended by 7th CPC is rejected

7th CPC Pension Calculation: Option-1 recommended by 7th CPC is rejected

UPDATE ON STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING OF NATIONAL COUNCIL JCM HELD ON 03.05.2017.

Meeting of the Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) held on 03.05.2017. Only Action Taken Report (progress report) on old items discussed in the Standing Committee meeting held on 25.10.2016 was discussed from 3 to 7 PM.

The protest of the staffside regarding abnormal delay in implementation of revised allowances from 01.01.2016 , increase in minimum pay and fitment formula , Option -1 parity of Pensioners , revision of pension and grant of dearness relief to autonomous body pensioners etc was conveyed to Secretary , Department of Personnel who chaired the meeting. The proposed move to close down DGS&D was also raised.

To discuss the new items another meeting will be held shortly.

On behalf of Confederation Coms: K.K.N.Kutty , M.Krishnan and M.S.Raja attended. Cabinet has approved the parity in pension recommended by the Pension Committee constituted by Govt w.e.f.01.01.2016. (whether it is 5th CPC recommended parity can be confirmed only after seeing the orders).

It is confirmed that Option-1 recommended by 7th CPC is rejected.

M.KRISHNAN
Secretary General
Confederation.

Source: Confederation

Minimum pay for Calculation of pay of casual labourers (without temporary status)

Minimum pay for Calculation of pay of casual labourers (without temporary status)

No.7-10/2016-PCC
Government Of India
Ministry Of Communications
Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi - 110 001
Date: 31.03.2017

Office Memorandum

The undersigned is directed to refer this Directorate OM No.2-53/2011-PCC dated 22.01.2015 vide which rate of remuneration payable to Full Time Casual Labour (Other than Temporary Status) Part time Casual Labour/Workers engaged on contingency basis w.e.f 01.01.2006 was issued. The para No.s 1 (i) & (ii) of ibid OM have been exmined for revision of remuneration payable to these casual labourers w.e.f 01.01.2016 in consultation with DoP&T and the DoP&T has clarified that:

Minimum pay for Calculation of pay of Casual Labourers ( without temporary status) may be considered as the minimum Pay of Level 1 of the Pay Matrix as per the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission i.e.Rs.18000/-

2. It may be ensured that the concerned casual Labourers are engaged in strict adherence to the DoP&T OM No.49019/1/95-Estt-(C) dated 14.06.2016 (Copy attached).

This may be brought to the notice of all concerned.

sd/-
(R.L.Patel)
Asstt.Director General (GDS/PCC)

Why 7th Pay Commission's miserly hike is understandable

Why 7th Pay Commission's 'miserly' hike is understandable
The central government is well aware of the fiscal trap pay hike largesse portends.

The 33 lakh-strong central government employees are peeved with what they perceive to be a niggardly increase granted by the 7th Pay Commission vis-à-vis the earlier pay commissions and accepted with alacrity by the central government.

The government though has averred that it is “not appropriate” to compare the increase in minimum pay suggested by the 7th Central Pay Commission with that of the previous commissions. According to the 7th Pay Commission, the real increase given in 1996 and 2006 in minimum pay was 31 per cent and 51 per cent.
As compared to that, the commission recommended an increase of 14.29 per cent. In concrete terms, the minimum salary has been hiked from Rs 7,000 per month to Rs 18,000 per month. The central government employees want it to be fixed at Rs 26,000 per month (Source: India.com).

The central government is well aware of the fiscal trap pay hike largesse portends, given the real and grim possibility of state government employees making a clamour for parity with central government salaries.
A Hindu report, however, takes a more charitable view of things when it says that data compiled from multiple sources, including a 2008 official survey, Right to Information applications, media reports and the 2011 Census shows that India has 1,622.8 government servants for every 1,00,000 residents. In stark contrast, the US has 7,681. The central government, with 3.1 million employees, thus has 257 serving every 1,00,000 population, against the US federal government's 840.

But then comparisons are proverbially odious. The US outdoes India in most government norms including judge-to-population ratio. While it is desirable to emulate the US, practical considerations including the size of the Indian population and the absolute number of employees make it veer towards caution.

Any egregious hike by the central government would have a precipitous impact not only on its finances but also on states, many of which are BJP ruled.

The central government is only following the template it laid down for itself when it boldly addressed the festering problem of the armed forces. While agreeing to one-rank-one-pension (OROP) norm in principle, it stood its ground and remained firm on ensuring this parity only every five years as against the unreasonable demand of every year.

At Rs 93,231 (Economic Survey report) for 2015-16, India’s per capita income for a month translates into an abysmal Rs 7,769 as opposed to what the central government employees have been offered - Rs 18,000. Mind you, the national average hides an inherent skew - the unorganised sector workers intuitively must be getting only half of the national average.

The point is the central government cannot be gung-ho about pay increases for employees coming under its jurisdiction given its ripple effect, in so far as similar demands from state government employees as well as the justified heart-burn it would cause among other employees especially in the unorganised sector.

Time was when public sector bank (PSB) employees got considerably more than central government employees. But successive pay commissions appointed by the central government have upset the PSB employees’ applecart. The sad truth is the central government pays out of the seemingly bottomless coffers of the consolidated fund of India whereas banks have to pay from their revenue and are answerable to their shareholders.

In any case, when the base is already large, further increases necessarily will have to taper down and be incremental. The 2006 increase of 51 per cent was indeed egregious. An encore of it in 2016 was just not possible.

As an aside, it must be pointed out that the central government job is no longer a cushy one, what with a demanding Prime Minister snapping at their heels. They are for the first time feeling the heat of the private sector motto - work hard, party hard.

BLACK DAY: 6th March 2017, CONFEDERATION NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CALLS UPON ALL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

BLACK DAY: 6th March 2017, CONFEDERATION NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CALLS UPON ALL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

CONFEDERATION NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CALLS UPON ALL CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
Observe 6th March 2017
as
BLACK DAY

• Against the betrayal of Central Government employees and pensioners by Group of Ministers of NDA Government.
• Demanding increase in minimum pay and fitment formula.

Dear comrades

          We know that all of you are in the midst of hectic preparation and campaign for making the 16thMarch Strike action a great success.  As has been explained in the article, which we have placed on our website, the NDA Government, led by BJP has exhibited the worst anti-employee attitude in the post independent  era of our country.  This Government has treated its own employees as its worst enemy. The decision taken by the Union Cabinet on 29th June, 2016 rejecting even the recommendations made by the high level committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary was unprecedented. Even the setting up of various committees was nothing but an eye wash. Nothing will come out of that.  Even the NPS Committee on which the young comrades had pinned some hope of at least  getting a minimum guaranteed pension will produce nothing.  The discussions at the JCM fora has been converted into mostly monologues i.e. the official side simply listening and not reacting.  The Government, it appears, has made the Pension department to reject the one and only recommendation of the 7th CPC which was considered to be positive i.e. Option No.1 for pensioners on the specious ground that the same is not feasible to be implemented. The allowances committee has dilly dallied its deliberation and would now submit its report after the extended period of 6 months expires on 22.02.2017. Even if they make any positive recommendation, which is seldom expected, the NDA Government would not act upon it.  They have very successfully postponed the payment of the revised allowance for 15 months.

In the face of such terrible onslaught, betrayal and chicanery, which no Government in the past has every indulged in,  it is surprising that some of our friends who has a predominant role in the movement of the Central Government employees has unfortunately chosen to wait and watch.  It appears that they have chosen to wait endlessly hurting the cause of the workers.

We have no hesitation to affirmatively state the obvious that we have chosen the right path, the path of struggles, which can only the choice of the working class against tyrannical attitude of the employer, howsoever, powerful they may be. We must realize that those who are  in the saddle of power today are not permanently posted there. We were witness to the abysmal downfall of persons who were arrogant personified.  It appears that the reasonableness, righteousness and patience we had exhibited have been taken as signs of cowardice. The undeniable fact is that those who fight, only can win. We, therefore, appeal to you to carry on with conviction and courage.

Eight months will be over on 6th March, 2017, when the Group of Ministers held out the assurance of revisiting the minimum wage and multiplication factor.  It is now crystal clear that that was an act of chicanery.  No committee was set up and no discussions were held to seriously consider the issue.  We, therefore, appeal to all of you to ensure that the day, i.e. 6thMarch, 2017 is observed as a day of betrayal and all our members are requested to wear a Black badge with the following words inscribed on it in bold letters and conduct demonstrations in front of all Central Government offices.

HONOUR THE COMMITMENT MADE ON
30th June & 6th JULY, 2016
REVISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND
MULTIPLICATION FACTOR

6TH March 2017 must be yet another occasion to mobilize our members to ensure their participation in the 16th March, 2017 strike action and ultimately win all the demands in the charter.

We fight to win and we shall win.
                             
               

With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
(M Krishnan S/G Confd.)

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

Confederation: Revision of minimum pay, fitment formula – high level committee not yet constituted

REVISION OF MINIMUM PAY, FITMENT FORMULA - HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE NOT YET CONSTITUTED:

While deferring the indefinite strike from 11th July 2016, as per the assurance given by the Group of Ministers, the NJCA in its statement dated 06-07-2016, stated as follows:

"The committee set up to look into the matter of minimum wage and fitment formula is expected to submit their report to the Government in the given time frame of not more than four months".

Finance Ministry's press statement issued on 06-07-2016 also stated as follows: “The Ministers assured the Union leaders that the issues raised by them would be considered by a High Level Committee".
After one month, the NJCA wrote letters on 28-07-2016 to Hon'ble Home Minister, Finance Minister, Railway Minister and Cabinet Secretary in which it conveyed the following:

"It is a matter of concern that, despite elapsing of a pretty long time, nothing has been heard in this regard from the Government of India, which is leading to serious resentment amongst the Central Government employees."

Again after two months the JCM staff side, Secretary, wrote a letter on 12-08-2016, to Shri. Arun Jaitely, Finance Minister – "We are expecting a quick action on the part of the Government to operationalise the assurance of setting up a High Level Committee to go into the Minimum Wage, Multiplication factor etc. However, we are disappointed that even after a lapse of more than a month, no orders have been issued by the Government in this regard ………. we therefore appeal to you that the concerned authorities may be asked to expedite the issuance of orders setting up the committee and finalisation of the report within the available time of remaining three months."

A group of Senior Officers invited the JCM staff side on 30-08-2016 to discuss the grievances arising out of the recommendations related to 7th CPC. No High Level Committee was constituted and no terms of reference was notified. The second meeting with Group of seniors was held on 24-10-2016.

Eventhough the group of senior officers held two round of discussion with JCM staff side, surprisingly they had not come prepared to discuss increase in minimum wage and fitment formula. They made a mockery of the meeting by disclosing in the first meeting that they are not fully aware of the details of the issues to be discussed and in the second meeting they told that they came for discussing allowances (though another committee under the chairmanship of Finance Secretary is constituted for allowances) and not minimum wage and fitment formulas. The JCM staffside leaders felt humiliated.

After that meeting, the JCM staffside wrote the following letter on 26-10-2016, to Hon’ble Finance Minister…..

"We (staff side) interacted with the said committee headed by Shri. P. K. Das, Addl. Secretary (Expenditure) on 24-10-2016. It would be quite appropriate to bring to your kind notice that, we have felt, during the course of meeting, that the proceedings of the committee are extremely disappointing and are left with the impression that committee is dilly-dallying the issue…………….. we are, therefore, left with no option, but to address this communication with the fervent hope that, your goodself will direct the said committee to interact with the staff side in a fruitful manner and arrive at a mutually agreeable proposal on the issue of minimum pay and fitment formula…. We have full trust and believe that, the Government would honour the decision taken in the meeting held on 30-06- 2016 in your benign presence and suitable direction will be given to the committee to complete the assigned task within the stipulated time frame in a satisfactory manner…. It would be the most unfortunate development, we regret to state, if we are constrained to tread the path of struggle once again in the event of the committee not coming up with a satisfactory settlement."
Inspite of all these, after that (ie after 24-10-2016) no meeting of the group of senior officers was held and no discussion on minimum wage and fitment formula took place. The four months time fixed for the High Level Committee (which is yet to constituted) expired on 30-10-2016. Government has gone back from the most important assurance given to the NJCA leaders on 30-06-2016 by the Group of Cabinet Ministers. NJCA decided to defer the strike mainly because of this assurance of the Govt. that the Minimum pay and fitment formula will be enhanced. Now that Govt. has gone back and betrayed the entire Central Govt. employees and pensioners. NJCA has no other option but to revive the indefinite strike.

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

7th Pay Commission : Who is letting down the CG Employees - Government or Union?

7th Pay Commission : Central government employees are feeling let down by the political authority as well as their own union, due in terms of better monthly salary and allowances.

Despite representations to the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister, Railways Minister, Departmental heads and Committees set up by the government to look into the pay and allowances related grievances, the employees have expressed utter disappointment that they have not been heard so far.

"We had sought a minimum pay of Rs 26,000, they gave us Rs 18,000. After every meeting they do not say anything. We ask, how much you can improve upon, you tell us how much you can go, buy they don't say anything, said K. K. N. Kutty, President, Confederation of Central Government employees and Workers, on the discussions the union has had over Allowances.

"There is no discussion in real terms regarding 7th pay commission, they simply listen to us and do not commit anything. We think the political authority, we don’t know, it could be Prime Minister, has not authorized the bureaucracy to commit anything to us,"added Kutty.

When around 33 lakh central government employees threatened to go on strike on July 11 protesting the implementation of 7th Pay Commission, the Finance Ministry had agreed to set up Anomalies Committee, and Allowances Committee who would be mandated to go through the fine print of the 7th Pay Commission.

Even after the formation of 22-member Anomalies Committee headed by Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) with members from both the official and staff side, and Allowances Committee headed by Finance Secretary, no settlement on the wage hike or allowances issue appears in sight.

The Government is yet to set up the high level committee on minimum wage, fitment formula revision and other main demands of central government employees as assured by Cabinet Ministers in July 2016.

The National Joint Council of Action, a front formed by six government staff unions, including Confederation of Central Government Employees (CCGE), All India Defence Employee Federation and National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Association representing the staff side of the central government employees have even threatened to go on a large scale agitation and hold a march up to the Parliament on December 15, if government fails to improve on pay and allowances over what has been implemented under 7th Pay Commission.

The point not to be missed here is that, while the salaries of central government employees were revised after 10 years, However, our country's MPs’ and MLA' s salaries doesn't need a pay commission, they will increase it themselves.

Source: gconnect

7th Pay Commission: Resentment over non-formation of High Level Committee

7th Pay Commission: Resentment over non-formation of High Level Committee

New Delhi: The central government employees union expressed its resentment over the non-formation of High Level Committee for reviewing the minimum pay and allowances.

The National Joint Council Action (NJCA), a confederation of 3.3 million central government employees, has been one of the most vocal protesters of increasing minimum pay Rs 18,000 since the the government implemented minimum pay from Rs 7000 to Rs 18,000.

The Central government employees’ Unions had been pressing for fixing “anomalies” in the pay scale. They were demanding minimum pay Rs. 26,000 instead of Rs 18,000 with 3.68 fitment factor, day after the cabinet approval the 7th pay commission recommendations. The cabinet approved it on June 29.

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu then stepped in and assured the unions leaders “the issues raised by them would be considered by the High Level Committee, which will soon be set up and the government will take steps accordingly.”

The unions leaders said, “three and half months was passed, no High Level Committee has been formed while The Finance Ministry issued a press statement in this regard on July 7, confirming the assurance and stated that a High Level Committee will be constituted. The above ministers also assured that the favourable decision will be taken within four months.”

The Central government employees Unions not only demanded hiking in pay scales but also asked the other anomalies in 7th pay commission recommendations like abolition of some allowances that should be fixed.
The government hasn’t honour its group of ministers assurance till date, so the central government employees unions say they must lead their march to Parliament on December 15.

The leaders of the central government employees unions have also called on all employees to join the march in demand of hike in minimum pay and other demands.

TST

Minimum wage hike for unskilled labourers historic : Arun Jaitley

Minimum wage hike for unskilled labourers historic : Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said the “historic hike” in minimum wages to Rs 350/day is a step forward in transforming India and labour reforms.

To appease trade unions, the government yesterday announced a 42 per cent increase in the minimum wages for unskilled non-agricultural workers to Rs 350 per day from the current Rs 246.

Also, the government employees will be paid a wage bonus as per revised norms, for 2014-15 and 2015-16, a move that will entail a payout of Rs 1,920 crore.

“Historic hike in minimum wages for unskilled non-agricultural workers to Rs 350/day is a step forward in Transforming India and labour reforms,” Jaitley tweeted.

The decision to pay bonus for years 2014-15 and 2015-16 on revised norms reiterates government’s “commitment to work for the benefit of workers”.

Trade unions, which are demanding minimum monthly wage of Rs 18,000 per month or Rs 692 a day and base pension of Rs 3,000 a month have said however that they would go ahead with the day-long strike on September 2.

The strike call is being supported by almost all major labour unions except RSS-affiliated BMS, and may impact banking and insurance services, power supplies and coal mining.

PTI

12 Point Charter of Demands – General Strike 02/09/2016

12 Point Charter of Demands – General Strike 02/09/2016

2016 September 2nd General Strike 12 Point Charter of Demands of Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions submitted to government:

PART A

1. Urgent measures for containing price rise through universalization of public distribution system and banning speculative trade in commodity market.

2. Containing unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation.

3. Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.

4. Universal social security cover for all workers.

5. Minimum wage of not less than 18000/- per month with provisions of indexation (for unskilled worker).

6. Assured enhanced pension not less than 3000 p.m for the entire working population (including unorganized sector workers).

7. Stoppage of disinvestment in Central/state public sector undertakings.

8. Stoppage of contractorisation in permanent/perennial work and payment of same wage and benefits for contract workers as that of regular workers for the same and similar work.

9. Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund and increase in quantum of gratuity.

10.Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days from the date of submitting application and immediate ratification of ILO conventions C-87 and C-98.

11.No FDI in Railways, Defence and other strategic sectors.

12.No unilateral amendment to labour laws.

PART B

Demand of the Central Govt. Employees

1. Avoid delay in implementing the assurances given by Group of Ministers to NJCA on 30th June 2016, especially increase in minimum pay a fitment formula. Implement the assurance in a time bound manner.

2. Settle issues raised by the NJCA, regarding modifications of the 7th CPC recommendations, submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December 2015.

3. Scrap PFRDA Act and New Pension System (NPS) and grant Pension/Family Pension to all Central Government employees under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972.

4. No privatization, outsourcing, contractorisation of Government functions.

5. (i) Treat Gramin Dak Sevaks as Civil Servants and extend all benefits on pay, pension and allowances of departmental employees.

(ii) Regularise casual, contract, contingent and daily rated workers and grant equal pay and other benefits.

6. Fill up all vacant posts by special recruitment. Lift ban on creation of new posts.

7. Remove ceiling on compassionate appointments.

8. Extend benefit of Bonus Act amendment 2015 on enhancement of payment ceiling to the Adhoc bonus/PLB of Central Govt. employees with effect from the financial years 2014-15. Ensure payment of revised bonus before Pooja holidays.

9. Revive JCM functioning at all levels.

Source-http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

7th Pay Commission: central government employees not to go on strike over pay disparity from July 11

7th Pay Commission: central government employees not to go on strike over pay disparity from July 11

NJCA convener (South Zone) N Kanniah informed the indefinite strike scheduled from July 11 has been temporarily postponed.

New Delhi: An indefinite central government employees’ strike will not begin on July 11 in protest at the “government inaction” on fulfilling their demands, including hike in minimum pay to Rs 26,000 from Rs 18,000 which was recommended by the 7th Pay Commission and was approved by the cabinet on Wednesday.

No central government office will be closed at any part of the country and the trains will also be running on July 11 and ahead as National Joint Council Action (NJCA), a confederation of 3.3 million government employees, has temporarily postponed the indefinite strike scheduled from July 11 after PM Modi formed a committee of Ministers to negotiate with union leaders on their demands.

“Since the Prime Minister has intervened and initiated the process of negotiation, we have decided to temporarily postpone the indefinite strike. The NJCA will make sure that the genuine demands of the employees are met with,” NJCA convener (South Zone) N Kanniah told The Hindu.

However, the claim that the government was giving a 14.28 per cent hike in pay was false since the calculations revealed an increase of only 11.31 per cent, which would further decline to 4.51 per cent after deductions towards provident fund and pension scheme contributions, he added.

TST

Finance Minister Promises Minimum Pay 7th Pay Commission Hikes

Finance Minister Promises ‘Minimum Pay’ 7th Pay Commission Hikes

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has promised to consider to hike the minimum pay of central government employees beyond Rs 18,000, a day after the cabinet cleared 7th Pay Commission award for its employees.

Central government employees have been demanding hike in minimum pay since November 19, when 7th Pay Commission headed by Justice A K Mathur submitted its report to Jaitley.

The Finance Minister said he was not ‘rigid’ on the issue and the government will try to rectify some of employees’ demands including minimum pay.

Jaitley met with representatives of central government employees unions at Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s house for two hours till 11pm on Thursday night.

Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu attended the meeting and assured unions leaders of central government employees that their demand would be looked into.

“The minimum pay of central government employees Rs 18,000 was made on recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. But government will consider hiking it after discussions with all stakeholders,” he said in the meeting.

“Three ministers called us and we met them at Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s house late on Thursday for almost two hours. We have been assured that the minimum pay issue is going to be referred to one of two committees that the government is setting up to rectify any anomalies in the pay commission recommendation implementation,” Shiv Gopal Mishra, General Secretary of the National Joint Council Action (NJCA), a confederation of several central government employees’ unions, told reporters after the meeting.

The council claims a membership of 3.3 million, including the central government employees – Railways, Defence, Postal, Income Tax, Central Customs and Central Excise etc.

NJCA already have rejected Modi government’s overall 23.5 percent pay hike bonanza based on 7th Pay Commission recommendations and would go on indefinite strike from 6 am, 11 July.

They have been demanding Rs 26,000 as minimum pay instead of Rs 18,000 approved by the government based on the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations.

Mishra also said the Home Minister assured them that “their interaction with us has the blessings of PM Narendra Modi”.

“On minimum pay, we are for a negotiated settlement and it seems there is some consideration at the highest level,” he added.

The increasing the minimum pay will change the salary fitment factor. If the minimum pay is hiked from Rs.18,000 to even Rs.20,000, the fitment factor will be higher than the 2.57 times approved by the government based on the pay commission recommendations.

If the 2.57 fitment formula is tinkered with, then salary and pension in general for all central government employees will go up.

NJCA wrote to all central government employees unions that “government has proposed to refer the issue of minimum pay and fitment factor to a committee for reconsideration. The NJCA will await communication in this regard from the government”.

It said that it will meet on 6 July again to decide on the proposed indefinite strike from July 11.

Source : tkbsen.in

7th CPC Latest News : BPMS Protest for Minimum Pay 24000 and Fitment formula 3.42

7th CPC Latest News : BPMS Protest for Minimum Pay 24000 and Fitment formula 3.42

BPMS circular for agitation programme from 01.03.2016 to 05.03.2016

BHARATIYA PRATIRAKSHA MAZDOOR SANGH
(AN ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF DEFENCE WORKERS)
(AN INDUSTRIAL UNIT OF B.M.S.)
(RECOGNISED BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOVT. OF INDIA)
CENTRAL OFFICE: 2-A, NAVEEN MARKET, KANPUR – 208001, PH & FAX : (0512) 2332222
MOBILE: 09415733686, 09235729390, 09335621629, WEB : www.bpms.org.in

REF: BPMS/20/CIR/2015

Dated: 19.02.2016

To,
The President/ General Secretary
Unions Affiliated to Federation

Subject: Agitation Programme from 01 March, 2016 to 05 March, 2016.

Sadar Namaskar
I hope this letter will find to all of you in good health and high spirit and busy in accelerating trade union activities. The meeting of office bearers of BPMS was conducted on dated: 11th and 12th February, 2016. In this meeting the recommendations of 7th CPC was discussed specially. As all of you know that 7th CPC submitted its recommendations to Honorable Finance Minister of Govt. of India on 19.11.2015. After analyzing the recommendations of 7th CPC, BPMS wrote a letter to Govt of India addressing anomalies in recommendations along with conducting a National level protest day on the call of GENC. We met Dr Jitendra Singh/Minister of DoP&T and Prime Minister Office at his office situated in Parliament and discussed the issues and submitted a memorandum. Honorable Minister assured the representatives of GENC and BPMS that all necessary action would be taken at the earliest and a meeting would be fixed with Honorable Finance Minister. But it is matter of concern that the federation has not been apprised about the action taken till date.

Therefore, it was decided in the meeting of office bearers to conduct agitation programmes of gate meetings, sit in, wearing black badges in their respective establishments from 01 March 2016 to 05 March 2016. On 04 March 2016 ‘Dharna’ will be performed and on the last day a memorandum will be presented to the Head of Establishment addressing Honorable Prime Minister and its photocopy should be sent to BMS office and BPMS office.

The demands are as follows-

1. Minimum Pay should be fixed 24000/- rupees in place of 18000/-.
2. The fitment formula should be 3.42 in place of 2.57
3. The ratio of minimum Pay and maximum Pay should be 1:10.
4. Annual increment should be 5% in place of 3%.
5. Five financial upgradations should be granted within the period of 30 years of Service under MACP scheme.
6. Pay Scales of Group ‘C’ employees should be merged and upgraded. Grade Pay 1900 and Grade Pay 2000 should be merged and upgraded to 2400 and Grade Pay 2400 and Grade Pay 2800 should be merged and upgraded to Grade Pay 2800.
7. Risk Allowance, Washing Allowance, Family Planning Allowance should be continued.
8. HRA should be granted at the rate of 15%, 25% and 35%.
9. Minimum two increments should be granted at Promotion.
10.Interest free Advances should be continued.
11.OTA is being granted to the employees posted in offices, directorates etc at the rate of 12 rupees per hour (on the pay scales of 4th CPC). OTA should be granted on the Pay Scales of 7th CPC.
12.Old Pension Scheme should be restored in place of NPS.
13.The employees covered under NPS scheme should be benefited with gratuity.
14.Commuted Pension should be restored on 12th year in place of 15th year.
15.CCL related to women employees should not be reduced.
16.There should not be any educational criteria (High School passed) for grant of compassionate ground appointment.
17.Benefits of 7th CPC should be granted to Centre, State and autonomous body employees equally.
18.Since amendment in Bonus Act has retrospective effect and implemented since 2014, the arrear of 2014-2015 should be granted without any delay.
19.All the employees should be granted Night Duty Allowance without any ceiling.
20.In Ordnance Factories all Piece work employees should be paid OTA (Between 44¾ and 48 hours) on their actual Pay instead of minimum Pay.
21.The employees having equal qualification and same nature of work should be granted equal pay in all ministries.
22.Examiners working in Quality control department in OFB should be granted Incentive Bonus.
23.According to 7th CPC recommendations, civilian employees retiring on same Post or same pay scale should be granted equal Pension.
24.Wards of employees died in harness are unable to find a Job due to 5% ceiling in compassionate appointment. Therefore, waiting dependants should be granted one time relaxation in compassionate appointment.
25.The employees of DRDO should be granted the benefit of PRIS.

Thanking you.

Brotherly yours
(M P Singh)
General Secretary

Copy to:
1. The General Secretary
BMS, New Delhi
2. The Secretary General
GENC, Naveen Market, Kanpur

Source: BPMS

7th Pay Commission likely to propose minimum pay Rs 20,000 of central government employees

Seventh Pay Commission likely to propose minimum pay Rs 20,000 of central government employees

7th Central Pay Commission Chairman Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur

New Delhi: The Seventh Pay Commission is likely to propose minimum basic salary Rs 20,000 of central government employees.


Highly-placed sources in the pay panel said on Monday, “the average increase in basic pay for all government employees will be in the region of 30-40%.”

Currently, the minimum basic salary of central government employees is Rs 7730 with Grade pay excluding dearness and other allowances. After the Seventh pay commission recommendations will come into force, the minimum basic salary will be 20,000 excluding dearness and other allowances.

A competitive minimum pay is important because it determines the the socialism view of the government and the higher number of central government employees are in the minimum pay slabs. Apart from giving good salary to lower grade employees, the pay panel also will have to consider the disparity ratio between its highest and lowest paid employees.

“A joint secretary gets now Rs 128,000 as monthly salary with dearness allowance. I do not expect it to go up to more than Rs 160,000,” a joint secretary-level official of the Central Government said.

The first, second, third, fourth, fifth pay and sixth pay commission recommended the minimum basic salary Rs 35, Rs 80, Rs 260, Rs 950, Rs 3050 and Rs 7730 respectively.

The Commission has already completed discussions with various stakeholders, including organisations, federations, groups representing civil employees as well as Defence services and is in the process of finalising its recommendations.

It’s now in the process of finalising its recommendations.

The Seventh Pay Commission is also likely to keep the retirement age of central government employees unchanged at 60 years, although most of the central employees bodies sought to increase the retirement age to 62 years in their memorandum in the pay panel.

“We are not going to either recommend lowering or raising the retirement age. If we lower the age limit, the pension burden will bust the government’s medium-term fiscal targets.” highly-placed sources in the pay panel said.

TST