Govt open to offer better hike than pay panel recommendation

Final burden of pay hike of central govt employees yet to be assesed, says FM Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is open to meeting central government employees' demand seeking a better pay hike over the recommendations of the 7th pay commission.

"The secretaries panel will decide the final burden on the government, a significant part of liabilities arising out of 7thCPC have already been factored in the Budget", said Jaitley, while replying to a question in his post -Budget interaction with media on Monday.

The central government employees unions have been seeking a minimum pay hike of Rs 26,000, a hike of around 44% on the pay panel's recommendation.

Highlights of Union Budget 2016-17

Following are the highlights of Union Budget 2016-17 presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament on Monday:

   * No change in personal Income Tax slabs

   * 4-month Compliance Window for domestic black money holders; tax, interest on them at 45%

   * Relief for tax payers who earn below Rs 5 lakh; ceiling of rebate u/s 87A raised to Rs 5,000 from Rs 2,000

   * House rent deduction raised from Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000

   * One-time dispute resolution scheme for retro tax cases, penalty, interest waived

   * High level committee headed by Revenue Secretary to oversee creation of fresh liability using retro tax law

   * Corporate Tax for new manufacturing units fixed at 25%

   * Clean energy cess increased from Rs 200/ton to 400/ton on coal, lignite and peat

Govt. to implement pay hike recommendation, expects little impact on inflation

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday presented the Economic Survey in parliament. The government has said that the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission which has a bearing on the common man, has stated that it will not impact market price volatality.

According to report, increase in wages recommended by the 7th Pay Commission is unlikely to destabilise prices and will have little impact on inflation.

Empowered Committee of Secy.s on 7th CPC to meet union leaders on 1st March'16

Meeting of the Empowered Committee of secretaries (E-CoS) headed by Cabinet Secretary on 7th Central Pay Commission recommendation with members of the Standing Committee of the JCM National Council Staff Side will be held on 1st March 2016 at 06:45 PM

Minutes of the meeting on 19.02.16 between NJCA and 7th CPC implementation committee

Minimum pay demanded as Rs 26000 in stead of proposed 18000
The important issues discussed in the said meeting is narrated in a nutshell below for a quick look.

Minimum Pay needs to be revised to Rs. 26000 p.m. and the minimum pay of Rs. 18000 p.m. as recommended by 7th CPC is not acceptable. This would require upward revision in the fitment multiple of 2.57 and change in the Pay Matrix.
Central Government employees need to be excluded from the National Pension Scheme (NPS), which has been a long pending demand of the StaffSide.

Implementation Committee working on 7th CPC, Notification likely in April

The implementation committee formed to review 7th CPC report is working on it. It requested all dept.s to send comments within 17th Feb but unfortunately the response has not been very satisfactory.
The committee urged to send the comments immediately vide their letter dated 15th Feb.
Click here for the letter
Today the list of nodal officers for different dept.s / ministries has been published.
Click here for the list
The committee will process the recommendations with due importance to comments from all stakeholders, i.e., associations and ministries, the final report likely to be placed before the empowered committee of secretaries in April and it will be sent to cabinet thereafter.
In the meanwhile everybody is eagerly waiting for the budget proposal where substantial amount is likely to be kept for the pay hike.

Media reports Central D.A. hike soon

Narendra Modi government is likely to hike dearness allowance (DA) by 6 percent to 125 percent.

The likely increase in dearness allowance by six percent to 125 percent from existing 119 percent would benefit over 10 million central government employees and pensioners.

The new rate of DA will be implemented from January 1, 2016, which will be applicable for 4.8 million central government employees and 5.5 million pensioners. DA is paid as a proportion of basic pay of employees.

Source : Zee News

Outcome of the meeting between NJCA and 7th CPC Implementation Committee

A meeting of the National Joint Council of Action with Convenor, 7th CPC implementation cell took place today as scheduled. Discussion took place about the 26 point charter of demands earlier submitted by NJCA.
The association side agitated against NPS, Minimum wage, Multiplying factor, decrease of HRA and other issues.
The official side took note of the issues and promised to put up before the empowered committee headed by Cabinet Secretary and hopefully a meeting with the Cabinet Secy. may be arranged within next 15 days.
NJCA, informing the updates, urged all members to keep on preparation for the proposed strike from 11th April as decided earlier.

LTC guideline for central employees

DOPT clarifies procedure of LTC claims and introduced a self certificate form to avail LTC.
A exhaustive guideline has also been issued for the benefit of employees for early settlement of claims.
Click here for the O.M. dated 18.02.2016

Guidelines :
1. Please ensure that you have applied for leave and submitted the self-certification form to your Administration before the LTC journey is undertaken. 
2. Please check your eligibility before applying for LTC. LTC to Home Town can be availed once in a block of two years and LTC to Any Place in India may be availed once in a four year block. If not availed during these blocks, the LTC may also be availed in the first year of the following block. 
3. Please note that the current two year block is 2016-17 and the current four year block is 2014-17. 

Defence Minister hints betterment of OROP and 7th CPC for soldiers

OROP scheme: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said government is reconsidering the denial of the One Rank One Pay (OROP) scheme to premature retirees. In an interview, Parrikar said a one-member judicial commission can also relook at equilising pensions.

The One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme announced by the government at present does not cover those who take early retirement, something that the veterans demanding OROP have opposed.

Finance Ministry invites NJCA to discuss over 7th pay commission recommendation on 19.2.2016

Finance Ministry invites NJCA to discuss over 7th pay commission recommendation on 19.2.2016

The Official Sources Close to the Finance Ministry told that a Meeting with National Joint Council of Action to be held on 19th February 2016 on the issues of 7th Pay Commission and Charter of Demands of NJCA.

It is informed that Convener, 7th Pay Commission Implementation Cell has fixed Meeting with NJCA on 19th February 2016 at North Block to discuss about the matters pertaining to 7th CPC recommendations and Charter of Demands of NJCA. The timing of the meeting scheduled itself has reveals its importance.

Uttar Pradesh C.M. assures pay hike

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav affirmed the commitment of his government for extending the benefits of the pay hike to state employees following the Seventh Pay Commission report, which is likely to be implemented by the Centre for its employees from April 1.

 “We have to implement the Pay Commission recommendations in the state. The state government will ensure hike in salary, pension and allowances to both retired and serving state employees as soon as the report is implemented by the Centre,’’ the CM assured in Lucknow on Friday.  

Ever since the Second Pay Commission report was tabled in 1960s, most states started following the Central Pay Commission’s recommendations, and announced similar hikes for state staff albeit with some modifications. 

Sources in the Finance department said the implementation of the report would put an additional annual financial burden of over Rs 35,000 crore on the state coffers. They said that the state exchequer could absorb the burden but it would wipe out the revenue surplus estimated to be Rs 28,200 crore in 2016-17. 

7th CPC update : Empowered committee likely to increase basic pay up to 30%

Empowered Committee of Secretaries processing the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission(7thCPC) in an overall perspective, are likely to double the percentage of pay hike recommended by the pay commission.

As per reports, central government employees are likely to expect basic pay hike of around 30%, which will be effective January 1, 2016.

Central employees on indefinite strike from 11th April

The NJCA met on 08.02.2016 as scheduled. The meeting after taking into account various factors decided that the proposed indefinite strike will commence from 11.04.2016 if no settlement is brought about on the charter of demands by that time. The meeting also took the following decisions.

Government to address armed forces' concerns over Pay Commission : Defence Minister

The government has studied representations from the armed forces vis-a-vis the 7th Pay Commission and their concerns will be addressed “in the near future”, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday.

“I have interacted with the three service chiefs and discussed the concerns of the forces. The concerns will be addressed in the near future,” he said on the sidelines of an International Maritime Conference here(Vishakhapatnam).

Govt. will allot 1.10 Lakh Crore in budget to implement 7th CPC and OROP : F.M.

The Budget 2016 needs to provide Rs 1.10 lakh crore for implementing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme and 7th Pay Commission award, besides a higher allocation for the farm sector, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.

Addressing the Consultative Committee attached to the Finance Ministry, he also said that India has a potential to grow at a much faster pace even as he exuded confidence that fiscal deficit target for the current financial year will be within target.

The 7th Pay Commission in November had recommended an increase in remuneration of about one crore government employees and pensioners, which are estimated to impose an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore in 2016-17. The new pay scales, subject to acceptance by the government, will come into effect on January 1, 2016.

Prime Minister asks for maximum benefit and early implementation of 7th CPC award

May be finalized in two months

In relief to Central government employees and pensioners, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked a Committee of Secretaries to accept the 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations without diluting them to provide maximum benefits to over 47 lakh government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.

The empowered committee, which was headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and comprised of  12 Secretaries, was set up on January 27 to process the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.

A top official in the government told Express that the Committee has been asked to speed up the review so that the Cabinet can  take a decision and the 7th Pay Commission award can be released at the earliest to the employees and pensioners.

“The government feels that recommendations to  introduce a health insurance scheme for staff and pensioners and double gratuity should not be diluted. The committee has been told to address the genuine concerns raised by stakeholders and accommodate their demands as much as possible. Although, there is indication that the committee may suggest some changes keeping in mind representations from middle and junior level, the decision will be taken after consultations with all the stakeholders. The entire process will take a couple of months,” the official added.

The pay panel recommended 23.55 per cent increase in pay and allowances and also recommended fixing minimum pay at Rs 18,000 per month and maximum at Rs 2.55 lakh. The ceiling of gratuity has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and 24 per cent hike has been recommended in pensions.

The Committee has secretaries from the Finance Ministry, Home, Defence, Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Pension, Revenue, Expenditure, Health, Post, Science & Technology on board. Besides, Chairman, Railway Board, Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General and Secretary (Security) are also on the board. The committee may co-opt with any other Secretary, whenever found necessary.

The committee will also examine the views of the concerned stakeholders including staff associations before finalising it for Cabinet approval.

Source : Indian Express

Outcome of meeting dated 2nd Feb regarding 7th CPC implementation

Associations may still push for pay hike demand through Dept.
"If a representation was made by a Staff Association before the 7th Central Pay Commission and the Commission after due diligence has not accepted the demand made there in, the same matter normally not be considered at the stage. 

"However, if departments consider that the issues are of such nature that they require consideration at this stage also, then they may give their comments with full justifications to the IC," said the minutes of the of first meeting of the IC. 

While a number of ministries/departments have sent their comments and nominated their Nodal Officers, the comments received from some ministries are "simply in the nature of forwarding" the representations of the staff associations without their comments. 

The recommendations when implemented would have bearing on remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners. Subject to acceptance by the government, the recommendations will take effect from January 1, 2016. .. 

Click here for the full minutes of the meeting

One Rank One Pension (OROP) implementation tables issued

The Government of India had taken the historic decision to implement OROP in November, 2015. This fulfilled the long standing demand of the Defence Forces personnel after 42 years and benefited over 18 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows. 

In pursuance of the order issued on 07/11/2015, detailed instructions alongwith OROP Tables have been issued today. 
Click here for the OROP Table

• The annual recurring financial implication on account of implementation of OROP at the current rate will be approximately Rs. 7500 crore. 

Punjab set up sixth pay commission

Chandigarh, Feb 3 (PTI) Former Punjab Chief Secretary R S Mann was today appointed as the Chairman of Sixth Punjab Pay Commission by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Disclosing this here, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that Badal has cleared the appointment of R S Mann as the Chairman of Sixth Punjab Pay Commission, with effect from today.

The spokesperson said the new Chairman has been mandated to give recommendations with regard to new pay scales for the employees and revision in the pension for pensioners/family pensioners of the state government after having detailed deliberations with the various state employees' and pensioners' associations.

IBA issued D.A. circular for bank employees / pensioners

IBA has issued circular dated 3oth Jan'16,on Dearness Allowance payable to Bank Workmen/Officers for the next quarter/as well as for Bank Pensioners for  half year w e f Feb 16 

Click here for D.A. for officers/employees

Click here for D.A. for pensioners