No merger of D.A. or hike in retirement age discussed in cabinet

It was learnt from the sources close to the Union Government that the proposals of Enhancement of Retirement age of Central Government Employees from 60 to 62 years and Merger of D.A to basic pay may not be materialized now before General elections. Accordingly, these two proposals have not been taken up for consideration by the union Cabinet in its meeting held on friday. But there is possibility to announce Interim Relief (I.R) before elections.
Source : sapost.blogspot.in

Cabinet approved Terms of Reference of seventh CPC

 The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the Terms of Reference of 7^th Central Pay Commission (CPC) as follows:-

a)      To examine, review, evolve and recommend changes that are desirable and feasible regarding the principles that should govern the emoluments structure including pay, allowances and other facilities/benefits, in cash or kind, having regard to rationalization and simplification therein as well as the specialized needs of various Departments, agencies and services, in respect of the following categories of employees:-

Consumer Price Index Numbers For Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) January 2014

According to a press release issued by the Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment the All-India CPI-IW for January, 2014 declined by 2 points and pegged at 237(two hundred and thirty Seven).
View the PIB Press Release

Cabinet approved 10% D.A. with effect from 01.01.2014

Union cabinet approved a hike of 10% D.A. a few minutes ago. Total D.A. will be 100% of Basic Pay and will benefit 50 lakh employees and 30 lakh pensioners. Click here for details
Click here to view PIB Press Release
Cabinet approved Rs 1000 per month minimum pension for EPF pensioners. Click here for details

All eyes to today's cabinet meeting. Will there be bonanza for Govt. employees ?

Everybody is eagerly waiting for the outcome of the cabinet meeting scheduled today, perhaps the last meeting of UPA 2 cabinet before the model conduct comes into force. This meeting is going to be a marathon one as the agenda is jam packed with lot of populist sops. Central Govt. employees are definitely going to get some relief in this meeting and they are very much optimistic about the outcome. Some of the topics which the ministers will be discussing are as under :
1. Grant of additional 10% D.A. for central employees from 1st Jan'14
2. Enhancement of retirement age from 60 to 62.
3. Merger of D.A. with basic pay
4. Finalization of terms of references of 7th CPC.
5. Minimum EPF pension of Rs 1000
6. Simplification of norms for subsidized LPG.
And of course there may be more populist measures to be discussed which may find place in the agenda at the last moment. So the countdown begins......stay online for update.

This week may bring cheer to central employees and pensioners

Update on 26.02.2014 : As per some leading newspapers, cabinet is going to meet on Friday, the 28th Feb and likely to clear at least the retirement age hike to 62 years and 10% D.A. from 01.01.2014. The retirement age hike, if approved, is going to take effect from 01.03.2014. So, those going to retire on 28th February 2014 will definitely miss the bus.
Click here for Business Standard news of retirement age hike
Click here for 10% D.A. hike news in Indian Express
Earlier News :
Central Govt. employees and pensioners will find reasons to celebrate this week. The union cabinet is likely to clear some long awaited demands for it's staff in the next meeting later this week The F.M., currently on foreign tour, likely to return India on 26th February and after which cabinet meeting is likely to take place. According to information available with us, merger of 50% D.A., an additional hike of 10% D.A. from 01.01.2014, granting of Interim Relief and enhancing retirement age to 62 years are under the consideration of Govt. and some of these are to be approved in the next cabinet meeting.

 As the notification of loksabha poll may be issued in the first week of March, this would be the last cabinet meeting before the code of conduct comes into force. So the central employees and pensioners may definitely hope for some bonanza to be announced this week. 

West Bengal CM wants centre to pay state employees' D.A.

Kolkata, Feb 22 (PTI) Centre should come forward and pay the dearness allowance of state government employees as well, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded today.
"Whenever the Centre announces DA, state government employees should be given the same on a par (with central government employees).
"They (Centre) give it (to central government employees) before elections. Will others (state government employees) suck their thumbs?" Banerjee asked.
"We want the Centre to pay the DA for (state government) employees," Banerjee said.

Whether Govt. actually merged Dearness Allowance with basic pay today (20/02) ?

Rumors spread very fast this afternoon that central cabinet approved terms of reference of seventh CPC and agreed to merge 50% of D.A. with basic pay for central employees and pensioners. Some of the popular websites and media sites started flashing this news. A cabinet meeting did took place today but according to sources, it was not discussed in the meeting due to paucity of time. 
Merger of D.A., granting interim relief and enhancing superannuation age are definitely being actively considered by the Govt. but nothing has been materialized as of now.
F.M. is proceeding to Australia for a five days official tour and it is most likely that cabinet will take any decision only after his return from abroad. So good news may be expected in the next weekend. 

Central D.A. merger and Interim Relief likely

The government may increase and merge dearness allowance (DA) with basic pay with the Union Cabinet expected to include the proposal as part of the terms of reference of the seventh CPC

The move will facilitate announcement of interim relief to more than 50 lakh government employees and 30 lakh pensioners by the newly-constituted pay commission before the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls come into force. 

Bank Bipartite : Next talk on 3rd March 2014

Next round of discussions regarding Xth Bi-Partite Settlement of wage revision between INDIAN BANKS' ASSOCIATION (I.B.A.) & UNITED FORUM OF BANK UNIONS' (U.F.B.U.) will be held on 3rd MARCH,2014.
Submitted by Mr Mohan P.

Railway unions not going to strike now

All India Railwaymen's Federation decided not to go to strike action at this point of time. In the general council meeting held on 17th Feb'14, they decided to offer some time to Govt. to consider their 36 point charter of demand. It may be mentioned that majority of employees expressed their opinion for strike. The council will take stock of the situation and decide further course of action in the first week of June 2014.
After civilian defence employees, rail employees also decided to do away with confrontation with the Govt., at least at this point of time.
View the AIRF resolution

All set to hike central retirement age to 62 years

It may sound ridiculous as number of times articles regarding this topic has published in different websites and newspapers. But as per our sources and media reports, centre finally decided to hike retirement age to 62 years. The process has received PM's nod and awating cabinet approval which is likely to be obtained in the next meeting.
The newly set up seventh CPC has recommended this hike in an interim report which got Govt. approval.
As per information available with us, this move will not benefit those who are going to be superannuated in this month or those who are already in extension.

Government employees to file separate property returns under Lokpal

All government employees have to file a revised declaration, information or return of their liabilities and those of spouse and their dependent children as per the mandatory requirement under the Lokpal regime, which came into being two days ago. 
These declarations would be different from the existing such returns being filed by the government employees under various services rules. 
The government has on Saturday notified the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Ord .. 
View the Gazette Notification

ONe Rank One Pension for armed forces approved in budget

Great news for ex servicemen. Finance Minister in his interim budget granted Rs 500 Crores for implementation of OROP for the ex servicemen. It will be effected prospectively from 01.04.2014.
Chidambaram says the government has accepted the one rank one pension scheme for the defence forces. "Rs 500 crore will be transferred in 2014-15 for implementing the 'one rank one pay' decision,"

Arvind Kejriwal resigns

FLASH NEWS 
Delhi Cabinet takes the decision to quit. CM to meet LG to tender
 resignation.-PTI News

Rahul Gandhi backs one rank, one pension demand

Rahul Gandhi backs demand of "One-Rank-One-Pension" for ex servicemen, says will make all efforts to ensure it is met at the earliest. - PTI

7th CPC likely to address Defence Force specially

 The armed forces are finally in for a special hearing, with the Centre likely to separately deal with issues pertaining to their service conditions and payment structures in the 7th Central Pay Commission. The Union government, however, has not accepted the demand for military representation on the pay panel. 

The terms of reference for the 7th CPC, to be cleared by the Cabinet, will for the first time include a paragraph on the defence forces. It has come in response to intense lobbying by the defence ministry and the armed forces, with the latter for long complaining of a "raw deal" compared to their civilian counterparts in the fixation of salaries by the central panel. 

Civil defence employees put off proposed strike from 17th Feb

• Defence civilian staffers agree to put off strike
• New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) Three federations representing around 4 lakh Defence Civilian Employees today decided to postpone their proposed indefinite strike from February 17 after receiving assurances from Defence Minister AK Antony regarding their demands.
  "Defence Ministry has agreed to settle some of the demands related to cadre restructuring, promotional issues, piece rate and incentive revisions for production workers along with revision in the night duty allowance, etc.," said an office bearer of the All-India Defence Employees Federation.

Mixed response in Central Govt. employees strike, to continue tomorrow

According to news available from different sources, the first day of scheduled 48 hours strike had mixed response all over the country. Service in some of the states paralysed today while some in some states almost normal operation were visible. Confederation greeted the employees for a successful strike and urged to continue it tomorrow. Till now, no official statement from Govt. is released. Selected part of the press statement of confederation is published below.

Central Govt. employees on strike from today

About one million Central Government employees (except those in the Railways and Defence) began a 48-hour strike from midnight of February 11 to go on till February 13. The major demands of the strike organisers, the Confederation of CGEs and Workers, are:

a) Withdrawal of the new Contributory Pension Scheme and re-introduction of the Statutory defined Benefit Pension Scheme for all giovernment employees. 

b) Dispensing with the Contract/Casual System of employment in government service 

c) Merger of DA with pay, Grant of Interim Relief and hold negotiations and settle the terms of reference for the seventh CPC.

Bank strike continues, people suffer, IBA cancelled meeting

After Monday, entire banking system in the country is facing a total shutdown in the consecutive second day today. After the weekend, the closure is practically three and half a days at a row. People in emergency is desperately looking for cash as  ATMs are either shut down or out of cash.
FM in a meeting commented that while employees just and reasonable demands should be addressed, in the other hand bank profits should be used for other important things including capital inclusion. 
It is reported that aggrieved with the decision of strike, IBA cancelled the next round of bipartite meeting which was scheduled on 13.02.2014.   

Govt. warns central employees about the consequence of strike

Central employees are going to observe two days' strike from 12th February 2014 demanding interim relief, merger of DA with basic pay, early implementation of seventh pay commission, scrapping of new pension scheme etc. 
Today Central Govt. warned the employees about the consequences, which include wage cut and possible disciplinary action. View the PTI news in this regard below :
New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) The Centre today warned central government employees of consequences, including deduction of wages and disciplinary action, in case they took part in a two -day strike from Wednesday, which has been proposed by their union.

Citing a Supreme Court judgement, the government said that the employees' association does not have any right to strike work. It added that acts of violation by employees would be considered as "grave misconduct".
Click here for the DOPT O.M. Dtd. 10.02.2014

Normalcy to be disrupted in central Govt. offices and banks next week

Normal operation in banks and central offices will definitely suffer a lot for the strike called by major unions next week starting from 10th February 2014.
United Forum of Bank Unions are going for a two days' strike on Feb 10 and 11. Major demands include early settlement of wage increase with appropriate percentage of hike. Apart from the branches, most of the ATMs will also be shut as the security guards also joined the strike. If some unmanned ATMs found open, it will be definitely without cash ! Only alternative available in these two days are net banking and mobile banking but they can not deliver hard cash even in extreme emergency.
After the bank strike is over, it would be the turn of their central employee counterparts. Confederation of central Govt. employees are going to observe another 48 hours shutdown on Feb 12 and 13. Their major demands include merger of D.A., Interim relief, early implementation of next pay commission effect, scrapping of new pension scheme etc. Though Railway and civilian defence employees are not participating in this strike. Civilian defence employees threatened to observe indefinite strike from 17th Feb onwards pressing for the same set of demands. Railway employees have also threatened for strike, but dates are yet to be announced. It may be mentioned here that Rail unions arranged for strike ballot for their members and the employees had given consent for strike in huge numbers. In the other hand, despite being proposed for strike ballot, other central leadership did not care for their members' opinion and called for strike.
When the country is being prepared for election and Central Govt.(Ruling Party) is not in a very comfortable situation, association leaders carefully chose the time for pressing their demands as it had been a general trend that ruling parties like to shell out before election !
But at the end of the day it is none but general public is always in the receiving end for any problems and they become the worst sufferer for any strike. Do the leaders ever think about people who are not working in any organized sector, how do they consider these shutdowns ?

Parliamentary panel recommends increasing retirement age to 65

A parliamentary committee has recommended that retirement age should be increased from 60 years to 65 years, citing the increase in ageing population and their productivity.

In its report tabled in Lok Sabha on Friday, the committee also advocated a host of benefits to the geriatric population, including upping their income tax exemption limit and setting up of super-speciality hospitals in all states exclusively for them.

Great News for newspaper employees ! Majithia wage board cleared by SC

SC upholds recommendations of Majithia Wage Board

The bench dismissed the pleas filed by various newspaper managements challenging the validity of the Board's constitution and its recommendations

 The Supreme Court today dismissed all writ petitions moved by  newspaper managements against the Majithia wage board for journalists and non-journalist employees of newspaper establishments.
Download the judgement

It ordered the owners to pay their employees the wages as revised/determined by the wage board payable from 11.11.2011 when the Government of India notified the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Boards.  All the arrears up to March, 2014 shall be paid to all eligible persons in four equal instalments within a period of one year. The revised wages will become payable from April, 2014.

Meeting with Chief Labour Commissioner fails, Bank Strike stands

Bank Unions (UFBU ) had given strike notice to IBA earlier,for two days All India Bank Strike on 10th and 11th February 2014.

On this back ground the  Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) had called for conciliation proceedings on 6th February 2014.

As per information available, the Conciliation Meeting with IBA arranged by CLC at New Delhi today failed.

IBA refused to raise the offer.

STRIKE STANDS.

Update provided by Mr Mohan P.

Media reports of 50% D.A. merger soon

Govt eyes on approximately 2 and half crore votes of Central government employees and pensioners and their families. Govt is preparing to merge 50 per cent dearness allowance (DA) into the basic pay to attracted approximately 38 lakh employees and 25 lakh pensioners. 

That would be in the next fortnight. If it happen, extra burden would cost of Rs 20,000 crore to the exchequer.

Seventh Pay Commission constituted

As mentioned in this blog a couple of days ago, Prime Minister approves formation of seventh cpc. Retd. Supreme Court justice Mr Ashok Kumar Mathur will be the chairman of the commission while Sri Vivek Rae, Secy, Petroleum and natural Gas and Dr Rathin Roy, Director, NIPFP will be the other members of the commission. Smt. Meena Agarwal, Officer on Spl. duty, Dept. of expenditure will be the secretary of this commission.

Justice A.K. Mathur.

 (Photo courtesy : whispersinthecorridors.com) 

This commission will look into the pay and pension as well as other benefit of central Govt. employees and pensioners. The pay structure was last revised from 01.01.2006 and scheduled to be revised with effect from 01.01.2016.
View the PIB Press Release

Formation of seventh pay commission this week ?

As per sources, Govt. is likely to announce formation of seventh pay commission for central Govt. employees and pensioners within a couple of days. Please wait for future update.

IBA issued circular for D.A. for employees and D.R. for pensioners from Feb'14

As informed in this blog earlier, IBA issued circular of D.A /D.R. hike for employees and pensioners with effect from February 2014.
View the D.A. Circular for employees for Feb to Apr'14
View the D.R circular for pensioners from Feb to July'14