AIPEU, GROUP-C, KEONJHAR, ODISHA: May 2017

7th Pay Commission: Arrears on higher allowances soon says government

The government has assured that the demand for the arrears on higher allowances as per the 7th Pay Commission would be met soon. The assurance was given by the Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha after a meeting with the National Joint Council of Action or NJCA the consolidated body of employee unions.

The NJCA which has been leading the negotiations relating to the 7th Pay Commission met with Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and reiterated the demand of arrears on higher allowances from January 2016 onwards. The body also demanded the implementation of the report by the Committee on Allowances under the 7th Pay Commission.

Demands will be met soon

The report was submitted to the finance ministry. It is still under examination. The Cabinet Secretary during the meeting assured that the same would be implemented soon. The concerns would be considered and it may take some time. The report is currently ebing examined by the Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by P K Siinha.

What are the demands?

During the meeting the NJAC spoke about the arrears and said that the employees should be given the amount pending from January 2016 onwards. Further they also demanded that the government resolve the anomalies related to the minimum wages, fitment factor and family pension under the 7th Pay Commission. A demand for upgradation of the fitment factor from 2.57 to 3.16 for minimum wage revision was also made. However this is negotiable they said.

Modifications suggested

There are a few modifications that have been suggested in some allownaces applicable to all central government employees and other allowances which are applicable to specific employee categories. The 7th Pay Commission had suggested the abolition of 52 out of the 196 existing allowances, apart from subsuming 36 smaller allowances. Further it had also reduced the HRA from the existing 10, 20 and 30 per cent to 8, 24 and 16 respectively.

CENTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING OF AIPEU GDS UNION AT TRIVANDRUM ON 05.05.2017

The 3rd Central Working Committee meeting of AIPEU-GDS (CHQ) was held on 05th May 2017 in Bank Employees Union hall, Trivandrum. The meeting presided by Com. Bijoy Gopal Sur, All India President and Com.P. Muralidharan, Chairman, CoC, Kerala made welcome speech.

Com.R.N.Parashar, Secretary General, NFPE inaugurated the CWC meeting and Com.Giriraj singh, Genl Secretary, R-III, Com.R.Seethalakshmi, Genl, Secretary, P-4. Com.P.Suresh, Genl Secretay, R-IV also attended and addressed.

Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation spoken elaborately on the organizational issues of AIPEU-GDS and the analysis of recommendations of the GDS Committee.

The CWC meeting concluded with the unanimous resolutions on demanding the Department & Govt to implement all the positive recommendations of Shri Kamalesh Chandra Committee Report at the earliest and immediate issuance of notification to conduct membership verification in GDS cadre.

The arrangements made by the Reception Committee for holding the CWC meeting and for the participants, invitees deserves all appreciation. CHQ conveyed heartfelt thanks to the comrades of Kerala for their support and cooperation to AIPEU-GDS.

Cabinet approval on 7th CPC modifications : What we know till now? How Can we Trust?

The Lavasa Committee's recommendations on allowances has not yet been shared in public domain but reports suggest that the committee has taken a favourable stand on subjects like the house rent allowance (HRA).How can we trust ?

Days after Ashok Lavasa-led Committee on Allowances submitted its review report on Seventh Pay Commission's recommendations, the Narendra Modi-led cabinet approved modifications on pay and pensionary benefits on Wednesday.

A meeting of the Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) was also held on the same day in which the protest by government employees over abnormal delay in implementation of allowances was discussed.

Increase in minimum pay and fitment formula, revision of pension and grant of dearness relief to autonomous body pensioners was also discussed at the JCM (Joint Consultative Machinery) meeting which was chaired by Secretary, Department of Personnel.

The proposed move to close down DGS&D (Directorate General of Supplies and Disposal) was also taken up at the JCM meeting.

On Wednesday, the Union cabinet approved modifications in the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations on pay and pensionary benefits.
The benefits of proposed modifications will be available with effect from January 1, 2016--the date of implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission.
With this, the annual bill of the Central government is likely to be Rs 1,76,071 crore. The two major decisions taken by Union cabinet were on revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners and family pensioners; and disability pension for defence pensioners.
For pre-2016 pensioners and family pensioners, the Cabinet approved the modifications relating to the method of revision of pension.
This modified formulation will benefit more pensioners that the previously recommended formulation. More than 55 lakh pre-2016 civil and defence pensioners and family pensioners will benefit from this modification.
The Union cabinet approved retention of percentage-based regime of disability pension implemented after the Sixth Pay Commission. The Seventh Pay Commission had recommended replacing percentage-based system with a slab-based system.
The Lavasa Committee's recommendations on allowances has not yet been shared in public domain but reports suggest that the committee has taken a favourable stand on subjects like the house rent allowance (HRA).
The benefit of the proposed modifications will be available with effect from January 1, 2016, the date of implementation of 7th CPC recommendations.
The government has decided to continue with an earlier system of disbursing disability pension and not to go ahead with a new regime recommended by the seventh pay commission. The armed forces personnel were demanding status quo on the percentage-based regime for disability pension and were strongly opposed to the slab-based system conceived by the CPC.
After a meeting of the Union Cabinet, defence minister Arun Jaitley also assured that the government was addressing the demand of extending pay matrix from 24 years to 40 years and carrying out rationalisation of pay Lt Colonels and Colonels.
Government employees' representatives are demanding arrears on allowances given the long delay in the implementation. It was speculated that the government will make an announcement before the start of this financial year.
However, following the delayed submission of the review report by Ashok Lavasa, the wait for revised allowances continues. The Union cabinet had approved the recommendations of Seventh Pay Commission in June last year. The Seventh Pay Commission recommended a 14.27 per cent hike in basic pay, which was the lowest in 70 years.

23^rd 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 7^th 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.

(M. Krishnan)

Secretary General

Confederation

Mob& WhatsApp – 09447068125

Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com