Slight Increase in AICPIN figure for February 2014

Consequent upon the release of AICPIN for the month of February ’14.by Ministry of Labour and Employment today which stood at 238 points with an increase  of 1 point while comparing figure of Jan’14.Index numbers were declined in earlier months.
View the PIB Release

Central Employees 10% D.A. from Jan'14 : Order Issued

The long awaited order of D.A. for central employees finally issued today. With this order, central employees total D.A. reached to 100% of basic pay with effect from 01.01.2014.
It is mentioned in the order that the arrears of D.A. will be payable after 31.03.2014, the next Financial Year.
Click here to download the order

Banks to remain open in the last weekend of March 2014

Banks to remain open on last three days of March

While 29th March is a Saturday, 30th March is Sunday and 31st March is the last year of financial year and is a public holiday (Gudi Padwa) in some parts of the country

Details of bank bipartite talk on 14.03.2014

Following details have been taken from All India PNB Staff Federation website.
“In our Circular No. 20 dated 3rd March 2014, we had informed about the details of the discussions held with the IBA on that day. Another round of discussions were held today in IBA office, Mumbai between IBA and UFBU. IBA’s team was led by Mr R. K. Dubey (CMD, Canara Bank), Chairman of the IBA’s Core Committee, Mr M. V. Tanksale, Chief Executive, IBA and other Executives. UFBU was represented by leaders of all our constituent unions. 

Bank unions seek five-day week : discussed in bipartite meeting

Apart from seeking early settlement of wage revision, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has renewed its appeal for introduction of five-day workweek and regulated working hours for officers.

The issue was discussed in detail at a recent meeting with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) in Mumbai. On its part, the UFBU said working hours could be increased by 45 minutes a day as most of the branches function for four hours on the weekend.

“While appreciating our viewpoints, the IBA wanted further inputs from the Unions in order to examine the issues and to take up the matter with higher authorities,” said UFBU Convenor M.V. Murali.

Talking to The Hindu, a UFBU representative said they would also seek suggestions from the government and bank customers as the latter should not feel that five-day banking would lead to reduction in services.

Source : The Hindu

Election duty will fetch more for polling personnels

The Election Commission has enhanced the honorarium for the polling personnel to be deployed for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"There will be a substantial hike in honorarium for the polling personnel this time and the entire payment will be credited directly to their bank accounts," Assistant Chief Electoral Officer Amitjyoti Bhattacharya said here on Friday. 
Elaborating this, Bhattacharya said each presiding officer would get an honorarium of Rs 1,600, up from Rs 1,100 plus a contingency amount of Rs 300 this time and each polling officer would get an honorarium of Rs 1,150, up from Rs 800 for election duty. 
PTI

Bipartite meeting on 14.03.2014 : Nothing significant.

In today's meeting only pension related issues and improvement in some some of the other service conditions as per submitted charter of demand was discussed. IBA responded to these demands positively. No discussion on wage took place in today's meeting. Next round of meeting is scheduled to be held in middle of April.
Details will be published as soon as available.

Central holiday on 14th April 2014 on account of B.R. Ambedkar's birthday

"It has been decided to declare Monday, the 14th April 2014, as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, for all Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments throughout India. "
View the O.M. dated 12.03.2014

Central employees posted in Faridabad, Noida, Gurgaon & Ghaziabad not to get T.A. as A1/A cities

Ministry of Finance issued order clarifying that central Govt. employees posted in above stations will NOT get Transport Allowance as A1/A cities. They will continue to get T.A. as applicable to other cities though they are eligible to draw HRA as a A1/A cities as per special provision.
View the Finmin O.M. dated 07.03.2014

Bank Bipartite : Next talk on 14th March 2014

Bank wage revision talks (under 10th Bi partite settlements ) is scheduled to be held on 14th March at Mumbai between Bank unions (UFBU) and Indian Banks Association (IBA) on 14th March 2014 at Mumbai.

Primarily negotiation will focus on increase in percentage of wages of employees by IBA along with pension and medical benefits.

Information courtesy : Mr Mohan P. 

Govt deductors spared from late filing fees for delay in furnishing TDS statement

Late filing of TDS statement (24Q/26Q) and consequential levy of fee u/s 234E (Rs 200 per day) will not bother the Govt. DDOs now, at least for the time being.
CBDT approved extension of time limit for earlier two years upto 31.03.2014.
Click here to view details

GPF interest rate remains 8.7% for 2014-15

It is announced for general information that during the year 2014-2015, accumulations at the credit of subscribers to the General Provident Fund and other similar funds shall carry interest at the rate of 8.7% (Eight point seven per cent) per annum. This rate will be in force during the financial year beginning on 1.4.2014. 

Lok Sabha Poll : Schedule Announced - April 7 to May 12

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) Lok Sabha elections will be held from April 7 to May 12 spread over nine days in the highest number of polling days so far involving an electorate of 81.4 crore, the Election Commission announced today.
View the detailed schedule from Election Commission website

Details of discussion between IBA and UFBU on 03.03.2014

The circular detailing the bipartite negotiation held on 03.03.2014 is reproduced below for the bank employees. The circular of National Union of Bank employees has been mailed to us by Mr Sankaran Srinivasan.
"Circular No.2/2014                                                             Date: 03.03.2014

,                                 10^TH BIPARTITE DISCUSSIONS

MEETING OF IBA WITH

ELEVEN (11) NEGOTIATING UNIONS ON 03/03/2014

IBA’s ADAMANT ATTITTUDE CONTINUES

NO IMPROVEMENTS IN TODAY’S  TALKS

Dear Comrades,

IBA's Negotiating Committee headed by Shri.T.M.Bhasin met the Eleven (11) negotiating unions on 03-03-2014 at IBA office in Mumbai.  From the NUBE, the undersigned participated.

Madhya Pradesh announces 10% hike in Dearness Allwance

Acting in line with Central Government, the Madhya Pradesh government has approved a 10% Dearness Allowance (DA) to its employees at par with 100% Dearness Allowance of Central Government with effect from January 1, 2014.

Bank bipartite talk inconclusive again

It is reported  that today's (03.03.14) bipartite talk between IBA and UFBU remained inconclusive. UFBU raised the issues of adequate wage revision, 5days' week, regulated working hours, improvement of pension related issues, better housing and hospitalization benefits etc.  In response IBA agreed to discuss these with Finance Ministry and thereafter hold negotiation with UFBU within 10 days.
In brief there is no development in wage talk practically. Details are awaited. 

Bank staff eye 15% pay hike in meet with IBA

Nine unions, representing around 9 lakh public sector bank (PSB) employees under the umbrella of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), are slated to meet Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) — the country’s apex bank management panel — on Monday to arrive at a wage revision settlement.

In the last round of talks that failed, leading to a nation-wide strike on February 10, the employees had cited high inflation while rejecting the management’s offer of a 10% hike in the cash component of the pay package (including basic pay, dearness allowance, house rent allowance, routine medical expenses and a special allowance, but excluding superannuation benefits, travel allowance and hospitalisation reimbursement).

Odisha hiked 10% D.A. from 01.01.2014

It is raining sops in Odisha these days. On a day when most parts of the state experienced rains in the afternoon, the Odisha government decided to shower over six lakh government employees in the state with a welcome sop in the shape of a 10% hike in dearness allowance (DA).

Even more welcome for the government employees is the fact that the DA hike will be applicable with retrospective effect from January 1 this year. That would surely amount to a neat packet for everybody fortunate enough to be in the service of the government.

Only the other day, the government had decided to give medical reimbursement to all its staff at rates applicable under the Central Government Health Services (CGHS).

Source : Odisha Sun Times

Rajasthan hikes 10% D.A. from Jan'14, Download order

On the initiative of the Chief Minister the state government on Saturday announced 10 percent hike in the Dearness Allowance (D.A.) of the State Government employees.  Dearness Relief for the pensioners has also been increased by 10%. Nearly 7 lakh employees and 3 lakh pensioners would be benefited by this increase in D.A. and Dearness Relief (D.R).