Monday 5 September 2016
Govt. employees step up pressure for early settlement of 7th Pay Commission allowances
Despite the largesse it gave to its 48 lakh employees and 55 lakh pensioners, at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.02 lakh crore with 23.55 per cent hike in pay and allowances, the 7th Pay Commission continues to be a source of an irritant for the Modi government as issues on allowances are not settled.
The Centre had set up a 'Committee on Allowances’ which met last Thursday under the chairmanship of Union Secretary, Finance (Expenditure) with representatives of the Central government unions.
At the very start of the meeting, representatives of the unions expressed their anguish for 'non-formation of High Level Committee’. According to them it was agreed to in July by the Group of Ministers (Government of India) for settling the issue of Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor. The unions want the 'minimum wage’ for Central employees to be fixed at Rs. 26,000 as opposed to Rs. 18,000 recommended by the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).
“The Secretary, Finance (Expenditure) told that, the committee constituted under the chairmanship of Addl. Secretary (Exp.) with J.S. (Pers.), JS (Estt.) and JS(Imp.) as Members has been made only for this purpose. Let us believe that, after the meeting, report of the said committee would be sent to the Government of India for its acceptance’’, Mr. Mishra, secretary (Staff Side) of the National Council/Joint Consultative Machinary, noted.
At the meeting, the unions made a strong case for implementation of the allowances to be decided by the Committee from January 1, 2016.
Besides, they wanted that House Rent Allowance be fixed at range 10 to 30 per cent of the basic linked to the classification of the town of posting, children education allowance of Rs. 3,000 and hostel subsidy of Rs.10,000. All these allowances should be tax exempt.
Staff Side demanded inclusion of post-graduate and professional courses in children education allowance. The issue of special duty allowance was also raised for Northeastern region.
Their wishlist extended to 'Fixed Medical Allowance’ of Rs. 2,000 with Dearness Allowance Indexation, review of overtime allowance, small family allowance and dress allowance.
“Various Departmental Allowances, which have been abolished, should be allowed to continue, like Breakdown Allowance in the Railways and Fixed Conveyance Allowance to Postal Department employees”, Mr. Mishra noted.
Separately, M. Ragaviah, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen-NFIR (an affiliate of Congress trade union INTUC) said, “While there has been no commitment from the Chairman and Official Side of the Committee, the Finance Secretary however stated that further meetings will be held and in the meantime the JCM (Staff Side) may list out common issues and send the same to the Joint Secretary (Imp) and equally Departmental specified issues be sent through the respective Administrative Ministries for examination”.
7th Pay Commission: Panel On Allowances To Give Report Soon
“Whatever the committee decides on allowances, it will go to the Cabinet,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.
New Delhi: A panel to examine the suggestions of the 7th Pay Commission on allowances is likely to submit its report within 10-15 days.
The report is being finalised and will be submitted to the Finance Minister in the next 10-15 days, sources said.
The government on July 22 constituted a committee comprising Finance Secretary as Chairman and Secretaries of Home Affairs, Defence, Health and Family Welfare, Personnel & Training, Posts and Chairman, Railway Board as Members to examine the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on allowances, other than dearness allowance.
Once the report is submitted, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will take a call on the implementation of the allowances, sources added.
Last year, the Justice A K Mathur pay panel had recommended abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming 37 others.
The representatives of the employees unions had earlier conveyed to the government that they did not want it to approve the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on allowances without examining them further.
So, the Union Cabinet directed to set up a committee to look into the provision of allowances under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, when the Cabinet cleared the recommendations of the Pay Commission in respect of the hike in basic pay and pension on June 29.
“The committee has been asked to submit its report within four months. Its two meetings were held on August 4 and September 1 respectively. The recommendations of the committee would have to be submitted to the Finance Minister within 10-15 days. After assessment, this would be submitted to the Cabinet,” sources said.
At the second meeting on allowances, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary (Staff Side) said, “Let us believe that, after the meeting, report of the said committee would be sent to the Government of India for its acceptance.”
Last month, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said in Rajya Sabha, “As far as allowances are concerned, 51 have been abolished while 37 have been subsumed. As the measures are radical in nature, even the employees’ unions have given their suggestions in the matter and therefore a special committee has been formed to look into it. Whatever the committee decides, it will go to the Cabinet.”
The government behemoth has to bear an additional burden of burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore on account of implementation of the 7th Pay Commission awards.
The matters relating to pay and pension as decided by the government have been implemented with effect from January 1 this year.
Besides the basic salary, a large portion of central government employees’ salary is the allowances, which are likely to be settled within 15 days.
However, central government employees and pensioners got their revised basic pay and pension under 7th Pay Commission recommendations on August 31 along with the arrears for last seven months from the period of January to July.
NCJCM urged Govt to grant HRA and Allowances w.e.f 1.1.2016
Shri. Ragaviah, leader Staff Side NCJCM urged upon the Chairman, 7th CPC Allowances Committee , to consider granting HRA at 30%, 20% & 10% of 7th CPC Pay, for the staff working in X, Y & Z Cities/Towns w.e.f. 01/01/2016
NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055
Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
No. IV/NFIR/7 CPC(Imp)/Allowances/2016
Dated: 02/09/2016
The General Secretaries of Affiliated Unions of NFIR
Dear Brother,
Sub: Meeting of the Committee to examine the recommendations of 7th CPC regarding Allowances- September 1, 2016, North Block, New Delhi-reg.
The meeting of the Committee was held on 1st September, 2016 at Room No. 72, North Block, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expr) to discuss on 7th CPC allowances. The JCM (Staff Side) Standing Committee Members have participated in the meeting. All the Standing Committee Members (Staff Side) expressed their serious disappointment over non-fulfillment of the assurance given by the Finance Ministry on 6th July 2016 for setting up High Level Committee to examine 7th CPC issues mainly – Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor.
The Leader Staff Side & General Secretary, NFIR Shri M. Raghavaiah has explained to the Finance Secretary, the discussions held between JCM (Staff Side) Leaders & Senior Ministers namely S/Shri Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Suresh Prabhu and Shri Manoj Sinha on the night of 30th June, 2016 and subsequent meeting held on 6th July, 2016 with Union Home Minister. He further explained that an assurance was given to appoint a High Level Committee to examine the issues relating to Minimum Wage, Multiplying Factor and other allied issues and accordingly Finance Ministry had issued statement on the night of 06th July, 2016 that a High Level Committee will be constituted. Pursuant to this assurance, the Strike action was deferred by the NJCA/JCM (Staff Side). He conveyed that the non-fulfillment of assurance is causing disappointment among employees. He requested the Chairman of the meeting to take initiative for ensuring that the assurance given is fulfilled.
He also expressed disappointment over non-holding of National Council (JCM) meetings since the last six years, resulting accumulation of grievances.
On the “Allowances”, he urged upon the 7th CPC Allowances Committee Chairman to consider granting HRA at 30%, 20% & 10% of 7th CPC Pay, for the staff working in X, Y & Z Cities/Towns w.e.f. 01/01/2016. He also contended that the date of effect of the Allowances should be January 1, 2016.
Mr. Raghavaiah has also highlighted the 7th CPC aberrations on Transport Allowance and requested to take action for rectification. He said that Fixed Medical Allowance be revised upwardly. He invited the special attention of the Finance Secretary to Para 8.2.5 of the 7th CPC recommendation which is retrograde and needed to be rejected as the same would cause harm to staff. He cited the case of PCO Allowance, Special Allowance for announcing duties, Special Incentive allowance etc., admissible in railways which are required to be continued and hiked
President/NFIR Shri Guman Singh, Working President Shri R. P. Bhatnagar, Vice President Shri K.S. Murty also spoke and stressed upon the need to continue the existing Allowances like Break Down Allowance in Railways. They also expressed serious disappointment over non-revision of Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor.
While there has been no commitment from the Chairman and Official Side of the Committee, the Finance Secretary however stated that further meetings will be held and in the meantime the JCM (Staff Side) may list out common issues and send the same to the Joint Secretary (Imp) and equally Departmental specified issues be sent through the respective Administrative Ministries for examination.
The above is for information of Affiliates.
Yours faithfully
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary
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