Congress Opposes Pay Commission Report, Wants More Benefits For Low Paid Employees

New Delhi: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken said on Sunday that his party will fight for safeguard of central government employees interest as the Seventh Pay Commission has increased the salaries of higher grade officers by many folds, there will be no benefit for middle and lower level employees.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Ajay Maken

“The Congress party is with the central government employees in this matter”, he said.

He also said the Congress party will strongly oppose if the 125 percent increase in DA (Dearness Allowance), which will be due on 1 January, 2016, is not merged with the basic pay when the Central government implements the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission for central government employees.

While Maken recently raised the issue at an AICC briefing, he organised camps at R K Puram and Sadiq Nagar areas on Sunday.

Maken asserted the Congress party will spare no effort to protect the interests of the central government employees, who are its “eyes, ears and brains”, inside and outside Parliament.

Maken said the House Rent Allowance (HRA) has been reduced from the existing 30 per cent to 24 per cent, 20 to 16 per cent and 10 to 8 per cent.

He also said if there was “good” entry in the CR (Confidential Report) of the central government employees, they used to get MACP, but according to the Seventh Pay Panel recommendations, the government employees would get MACP only if there is a “very good” entry in their CRs.

More areas in Delhi where central government employees, live would be covered in the coming days, he said.

Maken believes this will help the party gain a foothold among the staff who constitute a significant percentage of city voters.

TST

Seventh Pay Commission Delights Pensioners, Dismayed Employees

New Delhi: This should cheer central government pensioners but central government employees are dismayed by what Seventh Pay Commission did report.

Seventh Pay Commission Chairman Justice A K Mathur

With the Seventh Pay Commission headed by Justice A K Mathur recommendations of the new pension rules, the pensioners can expect a higher pension packet from next year.

Retired employees from the central government service will get a 24 per cent increase in benefits, while the pay increase for central government employees is 16 per cent.

However, central government employees will get a boost in House Rent Allowance (HRA), which takes the hike in this segment to more than 100 per cent. The government will increase the House Rent Allowance from the date of implementation of the pay commission recommendations, not from January next year.

In such a situation, pensioners would be the biggest gainers from the pay commission award, which starts next year, January 1.

Older pensioners have an added reason to rejoice. The seventh Pay Commission recommended a virtual one rank one pension (OROP) structure for central government pensioners, bringing in parity between past and existing pensioners.

“The commission recommends a revised pension formulation for civil employees including Central armed police forces personnel as well as for defence personnel, who have retired before 01.01.2016. This formulation will bring about parity past pensioners and current retirees for the same length of service in the pay scale at the time of retirement,” the Seventh Pay Commission said in its report.

This formulation will bring about parity between past pensioners and current retirees for the same length of service in the pay scale at the time of retirement.

The past pensioners shall first be fixed in the new pay matrix which has been suggested in place of pay band and grade pay at which they retired, at the minimum of the corresponding level in the pay matrix. This amount shall then be raised to arrive at the notional pay of retirees, by adding number of increments he/she had earned in that level while in service at the rate of 3 per cent. Fifty percent of the total amount so arrived at shall be the new pension.

An alternative calculation will be carried out, which will be a multiple of 2.57 times of the current basic pension. The pensioner will get the higher of the two. However the sixth Pay Commission recommended for additional pension with advancing age.

The Seventh Pay Commission revised the maximum gratuity to Rs 20 lakh from the earlier Rs 10 lakh. It will be raised by 25 per cent whenever dearness allowance goes up by 50 per cent but Sixth Pay Commission increased to Rs 10 lakh from Rs 3.5 lakh.

The commission has introduced Health Insurance Scheme for pensioners as well as central government employees. Commission has also proposed that the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) be strengthened so that pensioners living in areas which do not have CGHS dispensaries get access to empanelled hospitals and receive treatment on a cashless basis.

TST

Govt to bring Bonus Act amendment bill

New Delhi, Nov 28, 2015, DHNS: Government will introduce a bill in the ongoing winter session to amend the Bonus Act, 1965, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Parliament on Friday. Replying to the two-day special debate to mark the Constitution Day and Dr BR Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary, Modi said: “We are going to bring an important bill in this House to amend Bonus Act. The Cabinet has already approved it. This is a very important bill for our workers. We are taking decisions and working for welfare of the labour class.” 

Bonus calculations :

The amendment bill seeks to enhance extent of coverage for payment of bonus from the existing wage limit of Rs 10,000 to Rs 21,000 per month as well as the calculation limit for payment of bonus from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 per month.

The Union Cabinet had approved the amendment in the Payment of Bonus Act 1965 for the Industrial workers last month, making them eligible for the reward.

Source : http://www.deccanherald.com

Armed forces raise concerns in 7th Pay Commission with defence ministry

New Delhi: The armed forces have raised concerns over the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, including "shortcomings" in it, with the defence ministry, Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan said today.

He said the Commission's report has been examined and effort is on to ensure that whatever they feel is "necessary" for the officers and men of Army, Navy and Air Force, is made available to them.

Admiral RK Dhowan. PTI

"Whatever we feel are the shortcomings are being taken up by the three services with the Ministry of Defence to see that whatever we feel is necessary for our men, our officers, our civilians, is made available to them," Dhowan said during his annual press conference in New Delhi.

He said that all issues of "concern" are being taken up with the ministry.

The Navy chief was replying to a question on the discontent in the armed forces, especially at the level of officers, on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. Officers say that if the Pay Commission is implemented in the present form, it will position them much below their civilian counterparts in terms of salaries, facilities and status.

One of the main grudge that the armed forces have is with regard to risk-hardship matrix. The officers say that a soldier posted in Siachen Glacier, which has the highest degree of both risk and hardship, gets an allowance of Rs 31,500 per month.

In contrast, a civilian bureaucrat from the All India Services draws 30 percent of his salary as "hardship allowance" when posted anywhere outside the comfort zone.

Under the new scale, a senior IAS official posted in a city in North East will draw much more as "hardship allowance", compared to the Rs 31,500 per month drawn by military officers in Siachen.

PTI

SWR officers not happy with 7th pay commission

South Western Railway Promotee Officer’s Association (SWRPOA), Hubballi, has expressed disappointment over the recommendations of the seventh pay commission and has demanded consideration of some of its demands.

President of the association M. Sreedhar, general secretary Shaju A. Francis and other office-bearers submitted a memorandum to the general manager of South Western Railway Pradeep Kumar Saxena here on Wednesday urging him to forward their plea to the Railway Board for consideration.

In the submission, the officers said although the general impression is that salaries would go up substantially, the gross hike would be around 14 per cent in real terms.

SWRPOA would request the Railway Board to have the minimum pay recommended by the commission (Rs. 18,000) revised suitably and also have other pay levels revised accordingly, they have said.

They have said in the submission that the commission had not considered the long pending grievances of the promotee officers regarding parity in pay.

They have also pointed out that the commission’s recommendations related to seniority, recruitment including induction of Group-B officers into Group-A and other matters were not within the purview of the terms of the reference.

SWRPOA members also pointed out that the commission had not considered the Ministry of Railway’s recommendations about entry-level grade pay of Rs. 5,400 in Pay Band-II to promotee officers and placement of the junior administrative grade in Pay Band-IV.

They said that submission was made after discussing the pay commission recommendations in detail during the Annual General Body meeting of the association.

SOURCE - THE HINDU

Fix MPs’ salary at Re 1 more than Rs 2.50 lakh a month of cabinet secretary: SP leader

NEW DELHI: Some Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday demanded a "transparent mechanism" to fix their salaries and allowances, with one even suggesting their salary be fixed at Re 1 more than that of the Rs 2.50 lakh monthly salary recommended for the cabinet secretary by the 7th Central Pay Commission. 

Raising the matter as a point of order as soon as zero hour began in the morning, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal said the government had said it was constituting a "super committee" after media hype over the joint parliamentary panel's recommendation to double the pay and perks of lawmakers. 

While holding that the government could not set up a super committee over the joint parliamentary committee, Agrawal said, "It's not as if we are not affected by inflation. If people expect good conduct from us, there should be transparency with MPs as well. It will be appropriate if we get Re 1 more than what has been fixed for the cabinet secretary." 

JD(U) leader K C Tyagi joined Agrawal and said a "super committee" would be unconstitutional. "How can there be a committee to monitor a joint committee set up by Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman?" he said. 

Tyagi said though he was not against the 7th CPC recommendations, MPs should also get a fair deal. "It (CPC) has 169 types of privileges for central government employees... a hair-cutting allowance, a shoe-polishing allowance etc," he said. 

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, however, did not allow any further discussion. "Who is telling you there can be a committee to monitor a parliamentary committee? Parliament is supreme, there cannot be such a committee... It is all your apprehension," he said.

7th pay commission: 7वें वेतन आयोग में मांग नहीं माने जाने से अफसर नाराज

केंद्रीय सातवें वेतन आयोग की रिपोर्ट में पदोन्नत अधिकारियों की अनदेखी किए जाने से रेलवे के अधिकारियों में भारी रोष है। इस संबंध में यहां आरडीएसओ में भारतीय रेलवे प्रोन्नत अधिकारी महासंघ की बैठक हुई। 

इसमें फैसला किया गया कि रेलवे के सभी क्षेत्रीय संगठन अगले सप्ताह रेल मंत्री और अध्यक्ष रेलवे बोर्ड को ज्ञापन भेजेंगे। इसके बावजूद उनकी मांगों पर सकारात्मक कार्यवाही नहीं हुई तो वे सभी इकाइयों पर धरना-प्रदर्शन कर रोष जताएंगे।

महासंघ के महासचिव रमन कुमार शर्मा और सलाहकार जितेंद्र सिंह, अमेष कुमार व आरपी तिवारी ने बताया कि वेतन आयोग की रिपोर्ट में पदोन्नत अधिकारियों की वरीयता संबंधी टिप्पणी गैरजरूरी है और यह आयोग के अधिकार क्षेत्र के बाहर है। अगर यह रिपोर्ट लागू की जाती है तो अधिकारियों का वेतन सभी कटौतियों के बाद बढ़ने के स्थान पर कम हो जाएगा। वहीं न्यूनतम वेतन 18,000 निर्धारित किया गया है, जो तर्कसंगत नहीं है।

No proposal to discontinue the Digital Life Certificate for the Pensioners

There is a report in a section of press that while inaugurating an Awareness Workshop on the online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System “BHAVISHYA”, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the practice of submitting Digital Life Certificate for continuation of pensions will soon be done away with.

Strongly rebutting the report, it is stated that Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has never ever expressed any opinion on the issue at any platform and, therefore, the question of having made such a statement does not arise at all.

It is clarified that, as of now, the government has no proposal to discontinue the Digital Life Certification for the pensioners.

It is to be stated that “Jeevan Pramaan” – a facility for submission of digital of life certificates by pensioners has been launched in November 2014. This is a voluntary facility provided in addition to existing provisions available for submission of life certificates. Till date 9,62,910 Digital Life Certificates have been furnished by pensioners.

Source: PIB News

7th Pay Commission Pension Calculator

7th CPC Pension Calculator Enter your 6th CPC Basic Pension Select your 6th CPC Pay Band Select 5200 - 20200 9300-34800 15600-39100 37400 - 67000 Select your Grade Pay 1800 1900 2000 2400 2800 4200 4600 4800 5400 6600 7600 8700 8900 10000 Select the  Number of Increments Earned in the Pay scale when you retired Select Nil 123 456 789 101112 131415 161718 1920

7th CPC Basic Pension as on 1.1.2016 Initial Basic Pension fixed , using a multiple of 2.57 [ Option - I ] Basic Pension Based on Increments [ Option -II ] Pension amount admissible (higher of Option 1 and 2)

No proposal to discontinue the Digital Life Certificate for the Pensioners

No proposal to discontinue the Digital Life Certificate for the Pensioners

There is a report in a section of press that while inaugurating an Awareness Workshop on the online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System “BHAVISHYA”, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the practice of submitting Digital Life Certificate for continuation of pensions will soon be done away with.

Strongly rebutting the report, it is stated that Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has never ever expressed any opinion on the issue at any platform and, therefore, the question of having made such a statement does not arise at all.

It is clarified that, as of now, the government has no proposal to discontinue the Digital Life Certification for the pensioners.

It is to be stated that “Jeevan Pramaan” – a facility for submission of digital of life certificates by pensioners has been launched in November 2014. This is a voluntary facility provided in addition to existing provisions available for submission of life certificates. Till date 9,62,910 Digital Life Certificates have been furnished by pensioners.

Source: PIB News

7वें वेतन आयोग की रिपोर्ट लागू करने की कवायद शुरू

• वित्त मंत्रालय ने सभी मंत्रालयों को संयुक्त सचिव स्तर के अधिकारियों के नेतृत्व में एक शिकायत प्रकोष्ठ बनाने को कहा 
• गैर आईएएस अधिकारियों ने अमल समिति में केवल आईएएस को शामिल करने का किया विरोध

रोशन/एसएनबीनई दिल्ली। सातवें वेतन आयोग की रिपोर्ट लागू करने की कवायद शुरू हो गई है। वित्त मंत्रालय ने सभी मंत्रालयों से संयुक्त सचिव स्तर के अधिकारी के नेतृत्व में एक शिकायत प्रकोष्ठ बनाने को कहा है। मंत्रालय ने साथ ही अमल समिति में 12 अधिकारियों को शामिल करने का सकरुलर जारी किया है। इस समिति के मुखिया वित्त मंत्रालय के संयुक्त सचिव होंगे। दूसरी तरफ, अमल समिति में केवल आईएएस को शामिल करने का विरोध जताने के लिए गैर आईएएस अधिकारियों ने वित्तमंत्री से समय मांगा था, लेकिन उन्होंने अभी तक समय नहीं दिया है। हालांकि अधिकारियों ने मंगलवार को अपना एक ज्ञापन वित्तमंत्री कार्यालय को सौंप दिया है। 

वित्त मंत्रालय की तरफ से जारी सकरुलर के मुताबिक, सभी मंत्रालय शिकायत प्रकोष्ठ बनाएं और अभी से अपने मंत्रालय के कर्मचारियों की शिकायतें सुनें और जब आयोग के लिए शिकायत प्रकोष्ठ बनेगा, तब सभी शिकायतें उस प्रकोष्ठ को भेजें ताकि शिकायत प्रकोष्ठ जल्द से जल्द निर्णय ले सके। इससे पहले वेतन आयोग की सिफारिश लागू करने के बाद ही शिकायत प्रकोष्ठ का गठन होता था। 

सामान्य तौर पर वेतन आयोग के संयुक्त सचिव को ही अमल समिति का अध्यक्ष बनाया जाता है। इस लिहाज से 7वें वेतन आयोग में संयुक्त सचिव समीर सिन्हा को अमल समिति सौंपी जा रही है। सिन्हा के अलावा एक निदेशक, एक अंडर सेक्रेटरी और बाकी छोटा स्टाफ स्मिति में शामिल किया जाएगा। गैर आईएएस अधिकारियों ने समीर सिन्हा की नियुक्ति का विरोध करने के लिए वित्तमंत्री से समय मांगा था, लेकिन वित्तमंत्री ने अभी तक समय नहीं दिया है जबकि वित्तमंत्री अरुण जेटली के निजी सचिव भारतीय राजस्व सेवा से हैं। गैर आईएएस अधिकारियों ने विवेक राय को आयोग का सदस्य बनाने के खिलाफ कोर्ट में केस दायर किया हुआ है। विवेक राय पूर्व आईएएस थे और उन्होंने सातवें वेतन आयोग में आईएएस के पक्ष में जमकर वकालत की। गैर आईएएस का यही आरोप है कि आईएएस दूसरी सेवाओं के अधिकारियों के साथ न्याय नहीं कर सकते।

केंद्रीय सेवा अधिकारियों के महासंघ के महामंत्री जयंत मिश्रा ने वित्तमंत्री जेटली के कार्यालय में मंगलवार को एक ज्ञापन सौंपा। जयंत मिश्रा के अनुसार एक ही परीक्षा पास कर आए अधिकारियों पर विसंगति दूर होनी चाहिए। आईएएस को दूसरे अधिकारियों से ऊपर रखा जाता है। उन्होंने बताया कि जापान समेत कुछ देशों में राजस्व सेवा को नम्बर एक पर रखा जाता है। 

महासंघ ने वेतन आयोग से आईएएस को मिलने वाले लाभ को समाप्त करने और वेतन विसंगति को दूर करने की मांग की है। जबकि वेतन आयोग ने विसंगति को दूर करने के बजाय भारतीय पुलिस सेवा और भारतीय वन सेवा को भी आईएएस के जैसे दो वेतन वृद्धियों का लाभ दे दिया। महासंघ सभी सेवाओं को एक ही पलड़े पर रखने की मांग कर रहा है।

Epaper Rashtriya Sahara

Comparison of pay determination before and after 7th Pay Commission

The Shocking fact of Pay hike recommended by 7th Pay Commission

The Pay hike recommended by 7th Pay Commssion has been discribed as Bonanza by Media

• Pay commission said 14.29 % Hike in Pay is recommended, Media said central government employees will get 23.55% hike in salary including allowances.
• we will find out the real fact about the so called Bonanza..!
• whether the Media claims are true or not through a simple calculation…!

The strength of Group C employees in Central Government is 85%. So we must know what the Pay Hike is recommended for them actually.

But Media give more attention to this 15 % because they have been paid more

It doesnt make sense that the Pay hike recommended for remaining 15 % taken into account. Because they are creamy layer of the Government. The Pay Hike for them also will be decided by them. So the take extar care for not giving more to this 85%.

7th CPC recommendation on Pay Hike is mocking rather than encouraging the Central government employees. See the following example

Assume a govt servant has been appointed in GP 1800 on 1st August of 2015 and he has been provided accomadation in Govt Quarters

His Net Pay for the month of January 2016 in Sixth CPC is given below..

Basic Pay Pay = PB Rs.5200 + GP Rs.1800 = Rs.7000/-

Assuming DA 125% as on 31-1-2016 = Rs.8750/

( Since he hs availed Quarter) HRA = Nil

TA = 600 + DA = Rs.1350

Total Gross Pay = Rs. 17100

Deductions

NPS 10% of basic Pay = 70

CGEGIS = 30

Total deductions (700+30) = 730

Net Pay = 17100-730 = 16370

His Revised 7th CPC Pay as on 31-1-2016

Minimum Basic Pay = Rs. 18000/-

DA = Nil

HRA = Nil

TA = Rs. 1350

Total gross pay = Rs.19350

Deductions

NPS = 1800

CGEGIS = 1500

Total deductions = 3300

Net Pay -= 19350-3300 = 16050

Before 7th Pay Commission his Net pay = Rs. 16370
After 7th Pay commission his Net Pay = Rs. 16050

He will be drawing Rs.320 lesser in 7th Pay Commission revised Pay than from his Sixth CPC pay

Anybody acn calculate from the above example that how much percentage of increase this Goup ‘C’ Government servants get from this 7th CPC bonanza ?

Source: http://www.gservants.com/

Railway engineers protest against 7th Pay Commission at Jantar Mantar

Collecting under the banner of the All India Railway Engineers Federation (AIREF), the engineers said that their protest would continue till Wednesday (December 2).

Representational image

Railway engineers from across the country gathered at the Jantar Mantar area of central Delhi on Tuesday to voice their objections to the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.

Collecting under the banner of the All India Railway Engineers Federation (AIREF), the engineers said that their protest would continue till Wednesday (December 2).

Engineer Sanjib Kumar, the president of the AIREF, told ANI, "Due to the faulty policies made by railways and erroneous report given by Seventh Central Pay Commission, the railway engineers have been frustrated seriously for which there will be a tremendous threat to railway safety in the future".

He further stated that the AIREF represents about 80,000 degree and diploma engineers of Indian Railways, all of whom play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and efficient running of trains; construction and production; design, repair and maintenance of tracks, bridges and buildings; rolling stock, locomotives, coaches, electrical services, OHE, signals, telecommunications.

Kumar also revealed that the railway engineers also assume the responsibility for the safe movement of 23 million passengers daily.

The striking railway engineers said that they have submitted a charter of 27 demands for the government to implement, failing which they warned that their strike could turn into an indefinite one.

The demands are as follows:

1. Group-B/Gazetted status to all railway engineers (JE, SSE, SE/IT, CMA/CMS & DMS/CDMS) as per DOPT Gazette Notification no-605 dtd. 09.04.2009 as implemented in all other departments of Central Government.

2. Recognition of All India Railway Engineers Federation (AIREF) and its affiliated Zonal Railway Engineers Associations as per Khanna Committee recommendation.

3. To remove anomaly of 6th CPC: Grant upgraded Pay matrix equal to Rs. 5400 (PB-3) to JE and Rs. 6600 (PB-3) to SSE with standard designation of Assistant Engineer.

4. Time bound promotion from JE to Junior Administrative Grade Officer.

5. Scrap new pension scheme in Railways or make it optional.

6. Grand Technical Allowance @ 30% to all railway engineers.

7. Inclusion of father and mother in definition of family as per Indian culture.

8. Remove anomaly of Modified Assured career progression (MACPS)

a. Counting of apprentice period for MACP for regular service since it is qualifying service for pension and increment.

b. Financial up-gradation under MACPS to the directly recruited Graduate Engineers (head Draftsman) Considering entry Grade Pay as Rs. 4,600/- for the purpose of MACP to all the directly recruited Engineering Graduates and treating GP-4200 to diploma engineers recruited as Asstt Draftsman in Design/Drawing Cadre and other Cadres, those recruited one stage lower at that time.

c. Third financial up-gradation under MACPS on completion of 20 years of service from the first promotion or 10 years after second promotion or 30 years after regular appointment whichever is earlier.

9. Stop immediately implementation of integrated seniority as per Rly Bd. Letter no. RBE 92/2015 for the purpose of promotion/selection to Group-B posts.

10. Open a promotional channel to qualified loco pilots to become JE / SSE through LDCE / GDCE.

11. Provide entitlement in Tatkal ticket through privilege / duty passes/ PTOs.

12. Provide e-ticket facility to Railway employees on pass/ PTOs / e-pass.

13. Remove restriction of no. of tickets in Rajdhani/ Shatabdi / Duranto express trains on passes / PTOs.

14. Provision of accidental insurance of Rs. 20 lakhs to all railway engineers.

15. Provision of LTC to railway engineers on inland or foreign tours once in two years.

16. No corporatisation in Indian Railways and its Production Units.

17. Provision reimbursement of tuition fee of children studying in higher education ( Engg. / Medical / MBA etc)

18. Provision improved rest house facilities at all major railway stations for Railway Engineers or provide hotel / retiring room facility as admissible to all Central Govt. employees.

19. Rename the training institutes as Railway Engineers' Training Institutes instead of Supervisors' Training Institutes.

20. Ensure CUG facilities to all Railway Engineers and increase the CUG utility amount to minimum Rs 500/- for JE and equivalent and Rs 1000/- for SSE and equivalent.

21. Provide brief case to all Railway Engineers irrespective of any condition.

22. Set up technical library in all divisional / HQ office including workshops, loco sheds under functional management of Engineers Associations of the unit.

23. Stop unnecessary inspections on Sundays & holidays by higher officers except during unusual incidences like accidents, derailments. etc.

24. Ensure compulsory weekly rest to field staff and to implement 8 hours duty schedule, sanction additional night duty posts of Engineers where it is not yet exists

25. Fill up all existing vacant posts to stop short-cut method.

26. Create new posts as per new assets.

27. Increase exemption limit Income tax to Rs 8 Lakhs and exemption of all allowances from Income tax.

Maintaining that the seventh CPC has ignored all factors i.e. education, duties and responsibilities of the railway engineers, and only concentrated on upgrading the pay structures of non-core, non-technical and non safety categories, Engineer Sanjib warned that it will affect seriously the government?s dream project to run a bullet train in the future.

He said that when several railway safety committees such as the Justice Khanna Committee, the Justice Wanchoo Committee and the Justice Sikiri Committee have categorically recommended giving railway engineers separate recognition in view of their separate nature of duties, responsibilities, mode of recruitment and training etc., why was this government shying away from granting it.

"We have had a good meetings with the commission at several places at different cities of the country. The chairman has assured to give justice by giving Group-B status and good pay structures with perks. But now, we have found that the commission has betrayed us", Engineer Kumar said.

AIREF Secretary General Engineer Ashok Kumar Tyagi described the lot of railway engineers as disappointing and unfortunate. "It is the worst ever pay commission report among seven pay commissions", he maintained.

A.V. Swamy, Member of the Rajya Sabha from Odisha and a member of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Water Resources, and a former engineer, justified the railway engineers protest. He said, "When the rights and demands of railway engineers are denied, the chance of technical advancement of the railways is remote".

Lok Sabha Member B. Majhi and ex-engineer-in-chief of E. Co. Railways, said, "Pay commissions have continuously ignored the just demands of the railway engineers".

Rajya Sabha Member A.B. Rapolu said, "The Railway Board has denied justice to its technocrats. Junior engineers and SSEs must be granted Group B gazetted status at par with other central government departments".

The AIREF said that the railway ministry has been giving only conventional replies and this would eventually affect the safety and economy of the railways seriously.

Expected DA Jan 2016 : AICPIN for the month of October 2015

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – October,2015 The All-India CPI-IW for October, 2015 increased by 3 points and pegged at 269 (two hundred and sixty nine).

No. 5/1/2015- CPI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT

LABOUR BUREAU

CLEREMONV, SHIMLA-171004

DATED : 30th October, 2015

Press Release

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) – September, 2015

The All-India CPI-IW for September, 2015 increased by 2 points and pegged at 266 (two hundred and sixty six). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.76 per cent between August and September, 2015 which was static between the same two months a year ago.

The maximum upward pressure to the change in current index came from Food group contributing (+) 1.78 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Arhar Dal, Masur Dal, Moong Dal, Urd Dal, Mustard Oil, Onion, Cauliflower, Green Coriander Leaves, Potato, Tea (Readymade), Sugar, Electricity Charges, Private Tuition Fee, Flower/Flower Garlands, etc. are responsible for the increase in index. However, this increase was restricted by Wheat, Fish Fresh, Poultry (Chicken), Eggs (Hen), Apple, Coconut, Tomato, Petrol, Washing Soap, etc., putting downward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 5.14 per cent for September, 2015 as compared to 4.35 per cent for the previous month and 6.30 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 5.71 per cent against 3.55 per cent of the previous month and 6.46 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At centre level, Chhindwara reported the highest increase of 10 points followed by Varanasi (9 points), Pune, Tripura, Jalpaiguri and Bhilwara (6 points each). Among others, 5 points rise was observed in 5 centres, 4 points in 7 centres, 3 points in 8 centres, 2 points in 16 centres and 1.point in 19 centres. On the contrary, Goa recorded a maximum decrease of 4 points followed by Ernakulam 3 points. Among others, 2 points decrease was observed in 4 centres and 1 point in 2 centres. Rest of the 9 centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 36 centres are above All India Index and other 42 centres’ indices are below national average.

The next issue of CPI-IW for the month of October, 2015 will be released on Monday, 30th November, 2015. The same will also be available on the office website www. labourbureau.gov. in.

(S. S. NEGI)

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL

Seventh Pay Commission Implementation Likely Mid-2016: Macquarie India

The seventh pay commission that has recommended a 23.5 per cent hike in salaries for central government employees may only get implemented by the middle of next year, according to Rakesh Arora, managing director and head of research, Macquarie India.

However, there is no certainty that it would happen even in the next six months, he said.

"And still there is no guarantee that it is going to be implemented in the next six months, it is still for the government to really consider.

"So what we are saying is from the timing it can happen by middle of 2016 and not be pushed out too late."

The sixth pay commission was delayed by 2.5-3 years, Mr Arora pointed out.

The seventh pay commission, headed by Justice AK Mathur, last month submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The recommendations, once cleared by the Cabinet, will lead to a substantial hike in salaries of central government employees and pensioners with effect from January 1, 2016.

However, there are worries on the fiscal deficit front due to the seventh pay commission, he said.

The government will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 1.02 lakh crore to pay higher salaries and pensions recommended by the seventh Pay Commission. Of this, Rs 28,000 crore will go for salary hikes of railway employees.

According to the finance minister, the implementation of the seventh pay commission will impact the fiscal deficit by 0.65 per cent of GDP.

However, it will ensure more money in the hands of the people, Mr Arora said. The salary hikes are expected to boost sales of affordable homes and consumer durables, which in turn will drive demand in the economy.

The seventh pay commission proposes a 16 per cent hike in basic salaries of 47 lakh serving government employees, and a 63 per cent hike in allowances. As a result, the overall hike in salaries will be 23.55 per cent. This compares with the 35 per cent salary hike central government employees got on implementation of the sixth pay commission in 2008.

The minimum salary for central government employees has been fixed at Rs 18,000 per month by the seventh pay commission.

Railway Engineers Condemn 7th Pay Commission

Railway engineers from across the country gathered at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi to voice their objections to the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission. Collecting under the banner of the All India Railway Engineers Federation (AIREF), the engineers said that their protest would continue till Wednesday. 

Engineer Sanjib Kumar, the president of the AIREF, said due to the faulty policies made by railways and erroneous report given by Seventh Central Pay Commission, the railway engineers have been frustrated seriously for which there will be a tremendous threat to railway safety in the future. The striking railway engineers said that they have submitted a charter of 27 demands for the government to implement, failing which they warned that their strike could turn into an indefinite one. The AIREF said that the railway ministry has been giving only conventional replies and this would eventually affect the safety and economy of the railways seriously.

Govt Likely To Give Better Pay Package Than Seventh Pay Commission

New Delhi: This give a great pleasure to central government employees, with the government is likely to modify the pay package of its employees, they can expect a higher package from next year. The coming revised pay will be higher than what the Seventh Pay Commission recommended.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

The Seventh Pay Commission increased 16 per cent pay hike, which is significantly lower than what the Sixth pay commission had recommended which was close to a 40 percent increase in salaries. The extent of increase is actually on the lower side of expectations.

The Seventh Pay Commission report for pay package hiking submitted to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on November 19. However, the central government employees are in for disappointment as the report has been proposed a 16 percent hike in pay package starting January 1, 2016.

We understand from sources of Finance Ministry that the average increase in basic pay for all government employees will be in the region of 20-24%. This is a very rough average because for low paid employees, the payback could increase by more than 26%.

We understand that minimum basic salary is likely to hike at least Rs 20,000 from Rs 18,000 recommended by the Seventh pay commission.

We also understand from sources, in good news for about 50 lakh central government employees, the the government is likely to approve doubling of existing rates of allowances and advances, which has been recommended for abolition by Seventh Pay Commission like risk allowance, small family allowance, festival advance, motor cycle advance.

It is also added that the central government employees at various levels have been complaining of the abolition of the above allowances and advances.

They also demanded to make up pay gap between employees and higher officers because in its report, the Seventh Pay Commission has recommended to increase the pay gap between the minimum and maximum from existing 1:12 to 1: 13.8, while all pay panels from second to sixth made up pay gap from 1:41 to 1:12.

Source :TST

Meeting of NJCA is scheduled to be held on 08.12.2015 to discuss 7th CPC issues

As all of you are aware that, the NJCA is going to meet on 8th December, 2015, in New Delhi to decide the future course of action and strategy.

It would be quite pertinent, if you kindly send us your valuable input, enabling us to include the same in the discussion and preparation of the memorandum, to be submitted to Government of India, seeking improvements in the VII CPC report.

No.AIRF/24(C) Dated: December 1, 2015

The General Secretaries,

All Affiliated Unions,

Dear Comrades,

Sub: Meeting of the NJCA – 8th December, 2015

Thank you very much for observing “Black Day” in a befitting manner on 27th November, 2015 all over the Indian Railways.

I hope, by now, all of you have gone through the report of the VII CPC.

As all of you are aware that, the NJCA is going to meet on 8th December, 2015, in New Delhi to decide the future course of action and strategy.

It would be quite pertinent, if you kindly send us your valuable input, enabling us to include the same in the discussion and preparation of the memorandum, to be submitted to Government of India, seeking improvements in the VII CPC report.

With fraternal greetings!