Tamil Nadu reverts to normalcy, 5 days' week from January

 Chennai, Oct 24 (PTI) All government offices in Tamil Nadu would revert to a five-day work week with effect from January 1, 2021, the state government said on Saturday.

A government order dated May 15, 2020, had ordered all its offices to function with 50 per cent strength for six days a week in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Subsequently, they were allowed to function with full strength from September 1.

"The present six-day work week including Saturday be modified and reverted to five-day work week with 100 per cent strength... with effect from January 1, 2021," Chief Secretary K Shanmugam said in an order.

Hefty hike in D.A. for Bank Employees from November 2020

 Bank employees and officers are set to get a hefty increase of 43 slabs D.A. from November 2020.

Total D.A. payable will be 81.80%

D.A. increase :

Sub Staff : Rs 440 to Rs 1100

Clerk      : Rs 545 to Rs 1945

Officer    : Rs 110 to Rs 4050

No change for Pensioners.

Source : AIBEA

22 Years service or 48 years of age ? It may be time to retire in Jammu & Kashmir

 The Jammu and Kashmir administration’s recent notification under SRO 324 to acquire powers to retire government employees at the age of 48 years or after completing 22 years of service is draconian and is against the interests of the lakhs of employees working in the region.

Click here to view the Notification

The notification/SRO aims to keep the employees under pressure which is bound to cause insecurity among them. It would serve as a tool to the government and bureaucrats to suppress their subordinates. A sword of uncertainty has been kept on the heads of employees which can also be exploited by their superiors.

There were already several laws to govern employees and what was the need to issue such draconian laws. The objective of such laws is only to prevent employees' unions from raising their voice against the ‘anti-employee’ policies of the government and the management.

The BJP government has already withdrawn several rights of the workers by suspending labour laws, in several BJP ruled states. The three labour laws passed in the Parliament at the far end of the truncated monsoon session constitute a grave assault on the working class of the country. The Modi government has rammed through these three anti-worker bills by muzzling parliament during the pandemic period.

The Central Government is going ahead with implementation of pro-corporate and anti-working class neo-liberal reforms in an aggressive manner. Large scale outsourcing, ban on creation of posts, non-filling up of about seven lakhs vacancies, move to corporatise various functions of the Government, freezing and impounding of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief, closure or merger of various Central Government establishments, refusal to scrap Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS) or to guarantee 50% of last pay drawn as minimum pension, refusal to modify retrograde recommendations of 7th Pay Commission.

All these measures have deepened the anger and discontentment among the ranks of employees.

Different platforms of trade unions and employees federations in the country have decided to go far general strike on 26 November for their demands. We appeal to the trade union movement of the country to enlist the demand for scraping of this draconian SRO in their demand charter also.

Source : Kashmir News Service

Download Bonus Order for Railway and other central Govt. staff

Central Govt. issued order for all non gazetted central Govt. employees for payment of non productivity linked bonus of 30 days for the Financial Year 2019-20 amounting Rs 6908/-

Click here to download the Govt. Order

Railway declared 78 days' productivity linked bonus for it's non gazetted staff for the Financial year 2019-20 amounting Rs 17,951/-

Click here to download Railway Bonus Order

Bonus for Central Govt. employees

Cabinet approves Productivity Linked Bonus and non-Productivity Linked Bonus for 2019-2020

Posted On: 21 OCT 2020 3:24PM by PIB Delhi

Click here for bonus order

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to pay Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB)for the year 2019-2020 to 16.97 lakh non-gazetted employees of commercial establishments like Railways, Posts, Defence, EPFO,ESIC,etc.will be benefitted and the financial implication would be Rs.2,791 crore.

Non-PLB or ad-hoc Bonus is given to Non-Gazetted Central Government employees. 13.70 lakh employees would be benefited and Rs.946 crore will be the financial implication for the same.

A total of 30.67 lakh employees would be benefited by the Bonus announcement and total financial implication will be Rs 3,737 crore.

Payment of Bonus to non-gazetted employees for their performance in the preceding year is usually made before Durga Puja/Dussehra season. The Government is announcing the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) and ad hoc bonus for its non-gazetted employees to be disbursed immediately.

Clarification on "Cash in lieu of LTC scheme"

There are many queries of Central Govt. employees regarding the new scheme of Govt. where employees can draw cash without making any journey in LTC.

Some of the issues have been clarified in the clarification issued.

Click here for clarification

Central Employees to observe "GRANT BONUS DAY" today

Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers calls upon the entirety of Central Government Employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks to hold protest demonstrations all over India at all centres and also in front of all offices (observing Covid protocol) on 20th October 2020, Tuesday. Railway Federations have also given a similar call for protest demonstrations on 20.10.2020. 

Click here for the circular

Railway unions threat of action if Bonus is not declared within 20th October

 The Railway workers union has threatened of ‘direct action’ if their productivity linked bonus, which is usually paid before the onset of Durga Puja, is not released by October 20.

This was decided in a virtual standing committee meeting of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) held on Friday.

AIRF general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said railwaymen worked 24X7 during the COVID-19 pandemic but the government was ignoring this “legitimate” demand of the railway employees.

“It was decided in the meeting that if orders for payment of productivity linked bonus to railwaymen are not issued by the Railway Ministry by October 20, direct action shall be taken on October 22, 2020,” he said.

The file related to the bonus has been sent by the Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) to the Finance Ministry, which is not clearing it and adopting an indifferent attitude in this regard, Mr. Mishra claimed.

Source : The Hindu

He said the payment used to be made before Durga Puja but this time it has not been done so far, resulting in serious resentment and unrest amongst the railwaymen.

In the meeting, officials also expressed anguish over anti-labour policies of the government and demanded direct action.

The meeting also raised issues regarding the privatisation/outsourcing and corporatisation in the Railways, restoration of the old pension scheme, and releasing of dearness allowance/dearness relief.

The board’s general secretary said that during the meeting, it was also decided to form Save Railway-Save Nation Campaign Committees at all 7,600 railway stations across the country.

He demanded that local rail users and other prominent personalities be involved in the formation of the said committees to create an effective atmosphere to halt the policies of privatisation and corporatisation in the Indian Railways.

Bank Wage Revision : Bipartite talk with officers' associations comes to a standstill

 The bipartite talk between IBA and Officers Associations suddenly derailed yesterday. 

 IBA in the forenoon informed their inability to conclude and ink the joint note pertaining to officers’ wage revision w.e.f. 01.11.2017. The lame reason cited by them was not signing the costing exercise with the Workmen Unions till then.

Aggrieved with the decision, the Officers' Associations immediately went to warpath. They decided to take following industrial actions.

" In this background after the analysis of series of developments it has been decided unanimously to retaliate with agitational programmes in a phased manner. The action programmes chalked out will commence with the following forthwith:

a) Withdrawal of extra cooperation. 

b) Officers should restrict to the allocated work upto 6.00 p.m. only. 

c) Officers should not respond official SMS/ Whatsapp beyond 6 p.m. 

d) Officers are directed not to do any official work on Sundays and holidays viz. attend webinars/ office/ participate any programme related to canvassing of third-party products/ marketing drives/ training programmes/ ‘P’ Review meetings."

Click here for AIBOC Circular

IBA and workmen union differ on special allowance

 In yesterday's meeting with IBA, they proposed a 16.4% hike in special allowance as agreed by officers' association.

Workme unions rejected the offer and demanded 20% increase.

Next meeting fixed on 17th and final agreement may be reached today.

Stay with us for further update.

Bank Bipartite Update by AIBOC

 There will be talks with IBA on financial and non Financial issues on 16th and day after. Most probably the settlement can be signed on 17th or 18th. IBA is planning to release the arrears before 25th this month. 

Regarding 5 day banking, is an open subject and will not appear in the final settlement. Association is trying for that. It needs govt clearance. 

Lets hope positive result.

Central staff and pensioners may get D.A. soon : Media Report

One of the media report claims that Central Govt. is considering seriously to revive the freezed D.A. / D.R for employees and pensioners. Discussions are on and it may be materialized in December, the report says.

Report :

"The Narendra Modi government had in April announced that the Central government employees and pensioners would not get 21 per cent Dearness Allowance, which they would have received from January 1, 2020, as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendation.

The decision was part of the Centre’s efforts to deal with the financial crisis like situation emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March this year.

“…the additional instalment of DA payable to the Central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to the Central government pensioners due from 1st January 2020 shall not be paid,” a government order read.

It further said that the additional instalment of DA and DR due from July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2020 shall not be paid, but both at current rates will continue to be paid.

Though there were rumours that the April order has been withdrawn, the news was later found to be a fake one.

However, the Centre is now mulling to announce the DA and DR for the employees and the pensioners. Discussions are on and it may be materialised in the month of December, said a source on the condition of anonymity.

The government is serious about the allowances for its employees. The pandemic situation has put a burden on both the government and the employees but the duo has so far stood tall, and the situation is currently improving, he added."

Source : Odisha TV

Know the levy payable after bank bipartite and payments of arrears

 It is gathered from different sources that Bank Bipartite between IBA and UFBU is going to be signed on 15th October 2020 with an estimated 15% hike in salary. 

LEVY amount is yet to be finalized by UFBU leaders but is is expected that it would be 2% of the arrears amount.

Click here to know the details

Update on Bank Bipartite : Partial Arrears this month ?

 The revised salary of public sector bank employees are almost finalized and it is believed that the part arrears will be paid by end of October 2020 or before Durga Puja.

It is also to be believed that the draft note of the revised salary as per 11th BPS between IBA and UFBU will be sgned by 15th October 2020 and new salary will be paid by 1st of Nov 2020 after delay of three years. 

The one month salary arears already been paid and will be settled in the final payment. 

Highlights of draft discussion

New Basic looks to be 1.515 times of existing basic. 

--Special Allowance may be 15.50% of new basic. 

--HRA seems unchanged at 7/8/9 % based on area classification. 

--CCA, PQP etc may be fixed at 1.515 times of existing levels. 

--Medical allowance may be fixed at 12,000 from existing 8,000. 

--P.F. deduction will continue at 10% of new basic.  

--14% employer contribution may be okayed for NPS. 

-- NPS Employee contribution kept constant at 10% (Basic pay plus DA)  

--PLI formula same as per MOU. 

Festival Advance and Cash in lieu of LTC with strict condition

 There is very little to cheer about for Central Govt. employees ahead of the festive season. FM announced two package for Govt. employees to boost expenditure and in turn to recover from the economic recession. 

The packages sound good but after issuance of the O.Ms it is clear that Govt. aimed to boost economy more and at the same time lured the employees to make expenditure more that they get out of these packages and eventually may be leaded to a debt trap. 

Let us take the example of Festival Advance. The amount of Rs 10,000 to be disbursed in the form of a debit card and have to buy goods within 31st march. It means the entire amount has to be spent regardless of requirement.  Click to view

The second one is more dangerous - Cash in lieu of LTC. A lump-sum amount .Rs 36,000/20,000/6000 per person of family will be paid in lieu of journey fare and the employee has to make expense of 3 times in goods/service entailing  at least 12% GST.

Click to view

He is also entitled to leave encashment  of 10 day which is normally available with LTC. This amount is also required to be spent totally in the above items or service.

It simply means if an employee claim Rs Rs 24,000  as fare component (assuming a four member family with lowest entitlement) and  Rs 20,000  as leave encashment he has to spend at least Rs 72,000 for the cash in lieu of LTC and Rs 20,000 which he got as leave encashment.

Total Incoming  Rs 44,000 (24,000 + 20,000) while mandatory expense Rs 92,000 !  A good joke indeed !!

Central Govt. doles out Festival Advance, Cash in lieu of LTC to boost economy

 In a desperate move to boost economy and gain the confidence of it's employees centre brings out innovative plans.

Rs 10,000 Interest free advance to all central employees.

Cash in lieu of LTC of which has to be spent in non food GST bearing items within 31st March 2021. Details of this scheme, i.e., amount of cash component is awaited.

Click here to view details and O.M.s

Most important thing to consider that still now Govt. has not issued Bonus Order for it's employees. Will these doles are substituting the bonus ? Govt. employees have reasons to suspect as they had to sacrifice their D.A. for 18 months while their counterparts in Bank and PSU are enjoying the same.

Following is the news related to Advance and Cash in lieu of LTC.

"The government on Monday announced a one-time Rs 10,000 interest-free festival advance to all its officers and employees as part of plans to increase consumer spending to spur demand in the economy.

But as a one-time measure, an interest-free advance will be given to all officers and employees of the central government, she said.

This Rs 10,000 advance will come as a pre-paid Rupay card, which can be availed and spent by March 31, 2021.

The repayment will be in 10 installments, she said, adding that Rs 4,000 crore is likely to be spent on this.

In a bid to stimulate demand in the economy, the government on Monday announced giving out cash vouchers to central government employees this year in lieu of leave travel concession (LTC) fare which could be spent only on buying non-food GST-rated items.

Finance Minister Sitharaman said the employees could buy items that attract 12 per cent or more goods and services tax (GST). These purchases will have to be made in digital mode from GST-registered outlets.

Every four years, central government employees get LTC to any destination to their choice plus one to their hometown.

Since travel is difficult to undertake during the pandemic, the government will pay the entitled fare as cash vouchers which have to be spent by March 31, 2021, she said.

Central government payout on cash-in-lieu-for-LTC will be Rs 5,675 crore, and another Rs 1,900 crore will be payout by central PSUs and public sector banks, Sitharaman said.

The demand infusion because of this would be Rs 19,000 crore, and another Rs 9,000 crore if half of the states follow this guideline, she added."

Source Rediff News

Update of Railway Bonus

 A meeting with AIRF and Minister and CEO of Rail Board took place today

The issues attached herewith have been discussed at length, and the CEO/MR has given positive response in many of the cases, including PLB to Railwaymen.

1. Promotion of staff from GP 1800/- to GP 1900 – Replacement of GP 1800/- with GP 1900.
2. Replacement of GP 4600/- with GP 4800/- (although Railway Ministry agreed, no orders issued till date).

3. Withdrawal of closure decision of five Railway Printing Presses.

4. Payment of PLB (for the year 2019-2020) to Railwaymen.

5. Implementation of accepted recommendations of 7th CPC in the case of following categories of Railway Staff:-
• OT Assistants of Medical Department in Railways.
• Harmonization of the cadre of Laboratory Superintendent of Medical Department in Railways.
• SSO (Accounts) in Railways.

6. Absorption of Course Completed Act Apprentices.
7. Allotment of GP 4600/Pay Level-7 to Loco Pilot (Mail/Express) in Railways.
8. Absorption of Quasi Administrative Units Staff in Railways in GP 1800/Pay Level-1 vacancies.
9. Upgradation of staff of S&T Cadre in Railways.
10. Career growth of Pointsman Category – Decision on EDs Committee Report after due consultation with the Federations.

11. Proposed new Scheme “SALUTE” – needs modification/improvement in consultation with the Federations.
12. Decision to surrender posts, particularly 50% non-safety posts –review RBE No. 48/2020 dated 2nd July, 2020 & ensure consultations.

13. Appointment of wards of safety staff who have been found medically fit prior to 27/10/2017 under LARSGESS – Bombay Division of Western Railway and Bhusawal Division of Central Railway have not yet issued appointment orders despite Railway Board’s instructions.

14. Provision of adequate funds to the Railways for ensuring payment of various incentives and allowances – abnormal delay has been causing agony and frustration among Railway Staff.

15. Covid-19:- Removal of ceiling of maximum 30 days special casual leave and restoration of quarantine leave in Indian Railway Establishment Code Vol. I for Railway Staff. Extension to retain Railway accommodation till 31st March, 2021.

16. Decision for premature retirement of Railway Staff on attaining 50/55 years of age or completion of 30 years of service in Railways should be rescinded.

17. Curtailing 10% posts from DR quota to be filled through LDCE –making it open to all.
18. Railway Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2017/20.09/2020 (RBE No.83/2020), regarding Night Duty Allowance, needs to be reviewed and recoveries should be stopped immediately. Matter should be discussed immediately with the Federations, as the railway employees perform unique nature of duties (during 22-06 hours).

LTC by Air to North East, Andaman and J&K extended for two more years

 "The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. 31011/3/2018- Estt.A-IV dated 20.09.2018 regarding relaxation to travel by air to visit North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman & Nicobar and to say that in relaxation to CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, the scheme allowing Government servants to travel by air to North East Region (NER), Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Union Territory of Ladakh and Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) is extended for a further period of two years, w.e.f. 26th September, 2020 till 25th September, 2022 as under:

(i) LTC for visiting NER, J&K, Ladakh and A&N in lieu of a Home Town LTC.
(ii) Facility of air journey to non-entitled Government servants for visiting NER, J&K, Ladakh and A&N.
(iii) Permission to undertake journey to J&K, Ladakh, NER and A&N by private airlines.

2. The above special dispensation is subject to the following terms & conditions:

(i) All eligible Government servants may avail LTC to visit any place in NER/ A&N/ J&K/ Ladakh against the conversion of their one Home Town LTC in a four year block
(ii) Government servants, whose Home Town and Headquarters/ place of posting is the same, are not allowed the conversion.
(iii) Fresh Recruits are allowed conversion of one of the three Home Town LTCs in a block of four years, applicable to them to visit NER/ A&N/ J&K/ Ladakh. They are also allowed one additional conversion of Home Town LTC to visit UT of J&K/ UT of Ladakh in a block of four years.
(iv) Government servants entitled to travel by air may avail this concession from their Headquarters in their entitled class of air by any airlines subject to the maximum fare limit of LTC-80.
(v) Government servants not entitled to travel by air are allowed to travel by air in Economy class by any airlines subject to the maximum fare limit of LTC-80 in the following sectors.

(a) Between Kolkata/Guwahati and any place in NER.
(b) Between Kolkata/ChennaiNisakhapatnam and Port Blair.
(c) Between Delhi/Amritsar and any place in J&K/Ladakh.

Journey for these non-entitled employees from their Headquarters up to Kolkata/ Guwahati/ Chennai/ Visakhapatnam/ Delhi/ Amritsar shall be undertaken as per their entitlement.
(vi) Air travel by Government employees to NER, J&K, Ladakh and A&N as mentioned in para (iv) and (v) above is allowed whether they avail the concession against Anywhere in India LTC or in lieu of the Home Town LTC, as permitted.
(vii) As regards the settlement of LTC cases where a non-entitled Government employee travels directly by air from his Headquarters to the destination in NER/ J&K/ Ladakh/ A&N, the clarification issued vide DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/3/2018- Estt.A-IV dated 20.06.2019 may also be referred to.
(viii) Air tickets are to be purchased directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company’, ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tours’ and ‘IRCTC’ [to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT’s O.M. No. 31011/6/2002- Estt.(A) dated 02.12.2009] while undertaking LTC journey. Booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted and no request for relaxation of rules for booking the tickets through such agencies shall be considered by this Department.

3. Efforts should be made by the Government servants to book air tickets at the cheapest fare possible. All the Ministries/ Departments are advised to bring it to the notice of all their employees that any misuse of LTC will be viewed seriously and the employees will be liable for appropriate action under the rules. In order to keep a check on any kind of misuse of LTC, Ministries/ Departments are advised to randomly get some of the air tickets submitted by the officials verified from the airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-a-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials.

4. In their application to the persons belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders are issued under Article 148(5) of the Constitution and after consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

Order

(Courtesy : https://www.govtempdiary.com/) 

West Bengal launches portal for Online Mutual Transfer

The West Bengal government on Wednesday launched a portal through which teachers of state- run and state-aided schools will be able to apply for mutual transfer and the applicant will not require any 'no objection certificate' (NOC) from his/her current institute to make such an appeal.

Click here to log in 

Presently, a teacher needs an NOC from his/her school to apply for mutual transfer. This will simplify the procedure of mutual transfer, Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said while launching the portal.

"A teacher won't have to approach the school where he/she is working for a No Objection Certificate while applying for a mutual transfer via this portal," Mr Chatterjee told reporters.

The applications will be processed in a centralised manner and this will help teachers of primary, secondary and higher secondary schools join in institutes in their home district or neighbouring district, he said.

Central offices to have at least 50% attendance

 In an office Memorandum dated 07th October 2020, DOPT issued instruction regarding attendance of Central Govt. employees.

Salient feature of this instructions are -

1. Under Secretary and above should attend office everyday as before.

2. For others, below the above rank, 50% attendance must be ensured. Head of Dept. may mandate more attendance if required in public interest.

3. The staff should follow staggered timings to avoid overcrowding as

 9 to 5.30 and 10 to 6.30.

4. Persons in the containment zone should be exempted to attend office.

5. Those who are not attending office should work from home and must be available on telephone or other electronic means of communication at all time.

6. Pregnant women and persons with disability shall continue to work from home.

Click here for the O.M.

No order to revoke suspension of D.A. : Centre clarifies

 A viral message claiming that the central government has withdrawn its earlier order to suspend dearness allowance hike is doing the rounds on social media. However, the Centre on Wednesday clarified that no new order has been passed with regards to the suspension of the DA hike.

The government’s Twitter handle, which goes by the name PIB fact check, called out the fake message saying that April’s order has not been withdrawn, though there are several claims around it.

“A headline has been morphed on a request letter written to the finance minister claiming that the Centre has taken back its order in DA cut. This headline is fake. The letter was written in May 2020. Centre has not taken any such decision," the PIB fact check handle tweeted.