Rationalisation of Labour Laws - PIB

Date : 29.11.2016

Rationalisation of Labour Laws - PIB

Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today said that Reforms in Labour Laws are an ongoing process to update legislative system to address the need of the hour and to make them more effective and contemporary to the emerging economic and industrial scenario. The Second National Commission which submitted its Report in 2002 had recommended that the existing Labour Laws should be broadly grouped into four or five Labour Codes on functional basis. Accordingly, the Ministry has taken steps for drafting four Labour Codes on Wages; Industrial Relations; Social Security & Welfare; and Safety and Working Conditions, by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalizing the relevant provisions of the existing Central Labour Laws. 

These initiatives will reduce the complexity in compliance due to multiplicity of labour laws and facilitate setting up of enterprises and thus creating the environment for development of business and industry in the country and generating employment opportunities without diluting basic aspects of safety, security and health of workers.

Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu launched cashless transaction facility of Visakhapatnam Corporation

Date : 28.11.2016

All 4,041 cities/towns asked to shift to cashless transactions; Madhya Pradesh to do so by March next year

Internet banking, Online payments and PFMS to be adopted

Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu launched cashless transaction facility of Visakhapatnam Corporation

As a part of the ongoing efforts to move towards cashless transactions of all kind, the Ministry of Urban Development has asked all the statutory 4,041 Urban Local Bodies to shift to e-payments at the earliest. These cities and towns account for about 75% of the total 40 crore urban population in the country.

Central Government’s message to the officials of these 4,041 urban local bodies was conveyed by Shri Rajiv Gauba, Secretary(Urban Development) through interactive video-conferencing. Senior officials of concerned States also participated during the half day long interaction on various aspects of ensuring cashless transactions.

State and city level officials were asked to promote internet banking (RTGS/NEFT), online banking using credit and debit cards for cashless transactions besides using Public Finance Management Systems(PFMS) developed by the Ministry of Financing for fund transfer, accounting and reconciliation up to the level of cities and towns.

Shri Gauba emphasized that all transactions relating to both income and expenditure of urban local bodies needs to be shifted to e-payment mode. These include payment of Property Tax, Professional Tax, all user charges like water and power bills, all kinds of fee and license charges, online booking of community halls, issue and renewal of birth and death certificates, registration of shops and other establishments, enrollment of library membership etc.

Expenditure to be made cashless include payment of salaries and wages to all regular and contractual employees, all contract and work relate payments, procurements, beneficiary payments like social security etc.

City governments were asked to take up necessary infrastructure and capacity building, awareness campaigns for opening of accounts for employees of all categories and their family members.

States have been asked to adopt Public Finance Management systems (PFMS) up to city level to enable transfer, accounting, reconciliation and monitoring of transfer of funds under various government schemes.

To illustrate the transaction volumes, 59 cities have collected tax revenues of Rs.1,722 cr during November so far including dues payable. These include; Ahmedabad-Rs.187 cr, Bhopal-Rs.27 cr, Chennai-Rs.80 cr, Faridabad- Rs.17 cr, Guwahaty-R.s. 14 cr, Hyderabad-Rs.208 cr, Indore-Rs.32 cr, Kakinada (AP)-Rs.20 cr, Kalyan(Maharashtra)-Rs.170 cr, Lucknow-Rs.23 cr, Raipur-Rs.17 cr, Visakhapatnam-Rs.16 cr, Amritsar-Rs.12 cr, Kanpur-Rs.30 cr, Mumbai-Rs.167 cr and New Delhi Municipal Council-Rs.84 cr.

Officials from Madhya Pradesh informed that the major 7 cities have already enabled cashless transactions and all the 378 cities and towns would do so by March next year. Uttar Pradesh and Goa have reported using PFMS up to city level and found it to be very useful.

Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated such cashless payment system introduced by the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and orientation camps for educating citizens on e-payment.

Pib

National Union Group - C & MTS & Postman Bi - Ennial Conference - Khammam Division (Telangana Circle ) Photos.

Date : 27.11.2016

National Union Group - C & MTS   & Postman Bi - Ennial Conference - Khammam Division (Telangana Circle ) Photos.

GDS PAY COMMITTEE REPORT NEWS

Date : 27.11.2016

GDS PAY COMMITTEE REPORT NEWS.

GDS Pay Committee Report will be published in India Post website on Monday or Tuesday.

Is Modi proving Manmohan Singh right with slew of U-turns on cash ban?

Date : 27.11.2016

Is Modi proving Manmohan Singh right with slew of U-turns on cash ban?

Click the above link to read more.

Rs 32,631 cr deposited in Post offices since demonetisation

Date : 27.11.2016

Rs 32,631 cr deposited in Post offices since demonetisation

New Delhi, Nov 27 (PTI) People have deposited a staggering Rs 32,631 crore in nearly 1.55 lakh post offices across the country following demonetisation of Rs 500/1000 currency notes.

The post offices have also exchanged about *Rs 3,680 crore of old currency notes between November 10 and 24, *Department of Posts Secretary B V Sudhakar* told PTI.

"From November 10 to November 24, we have exchanged 578 lakh notes of value of about Rs 3,680 crore. If you look at the deposits, 43.48 crore old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were accepted as deposits, and their value is about *Rs 32,631 crore*," he said.

As many as 1.55 lakh post offices -- about 1.30 lakh in rural areas and the rest 25,000 in urban and semi-urban areas -- are playing a "prominent role" in the entire exercise, he added.

During the same period, *Rs 3,583 crore*was withdrawn from post offices, Sudhakar said.

Following demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes from midnight of November 8, people rushed to banks and post offices to deposit or exchange old currency notes. Serpentine queues were seen in front of banks, ATMs and post offices with people lining up to get valid currency notes.

Those without postal savings accounts were also permitted to exchange the old notes up to a certain limit in the post offices by producing their identity cards.

While the window of a fortnight to exchange these currency notes over-the-counter at banks and post offices ended on November 24, the old notes can be deposited in bank accounts until December 30.

Date : 26.11.2016

Revolutionary leader and architect of Modern Cuba  Com Fidel Castro passed away last night.

Red salute to Com Fidel. 

National Union.

Observance of Protest Week from 12th to 19th December 2016 by FNPO affiliates.

Date : 26.11.2016

Observance of Protest Week from 12th to 19th December 2016 by FNPO affiliates.

Click the above link to view the circular.

Withdrawal of cash per week - RBI Instructions on 25.11.2016

Date : 26.11.2016

Withdrawal of cash per week - RBI Instructions on 25.11.2016

Withdrawal of cash – Weekly limit

RBI/2016-17/158

DCM (Plg) No.1424/10.27.00/2016-16

November 25, 2016

The Chairman / Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer,

Public Sector Banks/ Private Sector Banks / Foreign Banks/ Regional Rural

Banks / Urban Cooperative Banks/ State Cooperative Banks/ District Central Cooperative Banks

Dear Sir,

Withdrawal of cash – Weekly limit

Please refer to our circulars DCM (Plg) Nos. 1272/10.27.00/2016-17 and 1273/10.27.00/2016-17 dated November 13 and November 14, 2016, respectively. 

The banks are, hereby, advised that they may continue to allow their existing customers to withdraw cash from their accounts upto ₹ 24,000/- per week, till further instructions. 

The said limit include withdrawals from ATMs as stipulated in our circular DCM (Plg) No.1304/10.27.00/2016-17 dated November 20, 2016.

2. Please acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully,

(Suman Ray)

General Manager

Authority: www.rbi.org.in

Labour Ministry - Nationwide campaign to open bank accounts

Date : 26.11.2016

Nationwide Campaign from tomorrow to open bank accounts of all workers in both organized and unorganized sectors 

The Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with Department of Financial services, the Ministry of Finance is launching a nationwide campaign to open bank accounts in respect of those workers in both organized and unorganized sectors who do not have one even today . Starting form 26th November 2016, special camps will be organized in every district at specific locations to facilitate the workers to open their bank accounts. Government has decided to pursue this path of digital transactions more vigorously than ever before. “We have already sent communications to all the state governments in this respect requesting their active cooperation.” this was stated by Shri Bandaru Dattatraya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment here today. The Minister said that the team comprising of District Magistrates, Lead District Manager of the Bank and the Labour Officers of both Centre as well as State governments would decide the modalities of the camps including the locations within their districts and coordination with the banking channels.

Shri Dattatraya has called upon all the establishments, employers and the employees associations and everyone associated and seek their active involvement and cooperation to ensure that the needy workers are facilitated to access these camps and avail the services therein. The campaign will continue in the coming days through the concerned banks, their business correspondents and camps as required.

In order to facilitate financial inclusion and to ensure transparency in all financial transactions, the government launched its flagship scheme of Jan Dhan Yojna in September, 2014. More than 25 crore bank accounts have been created since then across the country thereby linking the working class to the mainstream of financial /banking activities. The DBT through this banking network has benefitted crores of poor citizens of the country.

Government has no Plan to write off education loans given to the poor and middle class family students

Date : 26.11.2016

Write off education loans given to the poor and middle class family students who could not get employment 

Government has no Plan to write off education loans given to the poor and middle class family students who could not get employment. However, for the students belonging to economically weaker sections, an interest subsidy scheme on educational loans is in place. Under the scheme during the period of moratorium full interest subsidy is available for educational loans disbursed on or after 1st April, 2009.
The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has formulated a Model Educational Loan Scheme for adoption by banks. As per the scheme, Banks may also provide additional moratorium upto 6 months at a time taking into account spells of under-employment/unemployment during the tenure of the loan.

Government of India has launched a Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL) wherein collateral free loan is given upto Rs.7.5 lakh. The fund provides guarantee against default in repayment of education loans to the extent of 75% of the amount in default.

This was stated by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Press Information Bureau.

Minimum Balance in Savings Accounts

Date : 26.11.2016

Minimum Balance in Savings Accounts

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide its circular dated August 10, 2012 on Financial Inclusion – Access to Banking Services – Basic Saving Bank Deposit Account, advised all Scheduled Commercial Banks to offer a ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ which shall not have the requirement of any minimum balance. In terms of aforesaid circular, banks have been advised to offer Facility of ATM card or ATM-cum-Debit Card to all BSBD account holders without any charges.

In other cases, as per extant instructions, with effect from April 1, 2015, banks have to follow additional guidelines on levy of penal charges for non-maintenance of minimum balance in savings bank account which include – notifying the customer clearly by SMS/email/letter etc. that in the event of the minimum balance not being restored in the account within a month from the date of notice, penal charges will be applicable; penal charges may be recovered under intimation to the account holder; the policy on penal charges to be so levied may be decided with the approval of Board of the Bank and the penal charges should be directly proportionate to the extent of shortfall observed. It should be ensured that such penal charges are reasonable and not out of line with the average cost of providing the services. It should be ensured that the balance in the savings account does not turn into negative balance solely on account of levy of charges for non-maintenance of minimum balance.

This was stated by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Deposits in Jan Dhan accounts rise to Rs 64,250 crore

Date : 25.11.2016

Deposits in Jan Dhan accounts rise to Rs 64,250 crore.

Deposits in Jan Dhan accounts rise to Rs 64,250 crore, UP leads the chart

Total deposits in Jan Dhan accounts have increased to Rs 64,252.15 crore, with Uttar Pradesh leading the chart with Rs 10,670.62 crore deposits followed by West Bengal and Rajasthan, the government said on Friday. The Centre also stressed that no public sector banks had given any instructions to their officials to deposit Re 1 or 2 to avoid zero balance in Jan Dhan accounts. “As on November 16, 25.58 crore accounts with aggregate deposits of Rs 64,252.15 crore have been opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) across the country,” Minister of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

GDS Sevarance Amount - Clarifications

Date : 25.11.2016

Regarding payment of Severance Amount to the beneficiaries of SDBS and NPS Subscription deductions under SDBS.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Speech in Rajya Sabha

Date : 25.11.2016

Demonetisation had led to "organised loot and legalised plunder".

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh slammed the demonetisation+ of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as a " monumental mismanagement+ " that might dent GDP by 2%, prompting finance minister Arun Jaitley+ to hit back, saying that the maximum black money was generated during Singh's tenure.

Singh made an unusual intervention in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, saying that the deaths of people and distress among the poor, farmers and small traders had convinced him that demonetisation had led to "organised loot and legalised plunder".

Arun Jaitley points to scams, attacks Congress

Those who did not consider the generation of so much black money and scams during their regime as a blunder are now finding the crusade against black money a blunder," finance minister Arun Jaitley said and rejected the claim that GDP growth would drop by 2% and accused the opposition of avoiding a debate.

"The government position is very clear from day one, that we are ready for debate... The opposition was finding excuses to avoid a discussion but Thursday morning, they were taken by surprise when we announced that the Prime Minister will participate in the debate. Now they are inventing and manufacturing reasons to escape the debate," Jaitley told the media outside Parliament.

In the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley and Prime Minister Narendra Modi heard Singh's seven-minute intervention in which he urged the government to find practical ways to give relief to a majority of people who are suffering and pointed out that 60 to 65 people had already lost their lives due to the move.

Reminding the government that 90% of the workforce was in the informal sector and 55% of those in agriculture were in distress, Singh said, "These measures convince me that the way the scheme has been implemented, it is a monumental management failure and, in fact, it is a case of organised loot and legalised plunder of the common people."

Singh, who has also been finance minister and RBI governor, said, "The national income, that is the GDP of the country, can decline by about two percentage points as a result of what has been done. This is an underestimate, not an overestimate."

Noting that demonetisation could weaken and erode people's confidence in the currency and banking system, Singh quoted John Maynard Keynes to counter Modi's appeal to the people to bear with him for 50 days. "Those who say demonetisation is good in the long run should recall the quote: 'In the long run we are all dead'."

The finance minister joined issue, saying: "The maximum black money was generated during 2004-14 and the period witnessed various scams like 2G and coal scam".

"We are not surprised that they did not like the anti-black money measures the government has taken. The steps that the government has taken are the right steps which are being implemented in the right manner. As far as the Indian economy is concerned, including India's GDP, it is going to be a positive impact," Jaitley said.

Source: Times of India.

FNPO Letter to Secretary DoP on Retirement & Death Gratuity.

Date : 25.11.2016

Extension of benefits of Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity to the Postal employees who joined the Govt. Service on or after 01.01.2004.- Our Federation Sent a letter to the Secretary DOP.

Click the link above to view the letter

FEDERATIONOFNATIONALPOSTALORGANISATIONS

T-24,Atul Grove Road, New Delhi - 110 001. Phone : 011-23321378

E-mail: theagarajannachi@hotmail.com.

Ref:9/NAPE/172/2016                                                                                                      24/11/2016

To

To

Shri. B.V. SUDHAKAR

Secretary,

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhawan ,

New Delhi-110 001

.

Sub: Extension of benefits of Retirement Gratuity and Death       Gratuity to the Central Govt. Employees covered by new Defined Contribution Pension System (National Pension System)-regarding.

Ref: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dept of Pension and Pensioners Welfare memo no. 7/5/2012-P &PW (F)/B dated 26.08.2016,

                        ************

Your kind attention is invited to the letter cited above, wherein the Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions, Dept of Pension and Pensioners have been issued to grant gratuity in respect of Govt employees covered by the National Pension System. The orders will be applicable to those Central Civil Govt. Employees who joined the Govt. Service on or after 01.01.2004.

 Though the concerned Ministry has issued orders in August 2016 itself, DOP is yet to issue orders to our employees

 Hence it is requested that necessary action may kindly be taken to issue orders to the Heads of the Circles at the earliest so as to enable the officials who have retired from service covered by National Pension System to receive the benefits.  

.

Yours Sincerely,

D.Thegarajan.

Secretary General.

   Copy to:

1)Shri A.K.Dash, Member (P),

2)MS.Manju Pandey DDG(P).

PRESS NOTE - GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Date : 25.11.2016

PRESS NOTE - GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Cabinet moves in to tax post demonetisation deposits

Date : 25.11.2016

Cabinet moves in to tax post demonetisation deposits.

The Union Cabinet on Thursday night is believed to have discussed amending laws to levy close to 60 per cent income tax on unaccounted deposits in banks above a threshold post demonetisation of high-denomination currency notes.

The move comes amid banks reporting over Rs. 21,000 crore being deposited in zero-balance Jan Dhan accounts in two weeks after the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes were banned, which authorities apprehend may be the laundered black money.

There was no official briefing on what transpired in the meeting that was called at short notice as Parliament is in session. Traditionally, there could no disclosures outside on any policy decision taken during the sitting of Parliament.

Sources said the government was keen to tax all unaccounted money deposited in bank accounts after it allowed the banned currency to be deposited in bank accounts during a 50-day window from November 10 to December 30.

There have been various statements on behalf of the government ever since the demonetisation scheme was announced on November 8, which has led to fears of the taxman coming down heavily on suspicious deposits that could be made to launder black money.

Officials have even talked of a 30 per cent tax plus a 200 per cent penalty on top of a possible prosecution in cases where black money holders took advantage of the 50-day window for depositing the banned currency.

Sources said the government plans to bring an amendment to the Income Tax Act during the current winter session of Parliament to levy a tax that will be higher than 45 per cent tax and penalty charged on black money disclosed in the one-time Income Disclosure Scheme that ended on September 30.

As for those black money holders who did not utilise the window, they would be charged a higher rate which could be close to 60 per cent that the foreign black money holder had paid in 2015.

Sources said the government is keen to root out benami deposits, particularly in Jan Dhan accounts.

There was also talk of the government imposing a limit on domestic gold holding, but it is not clear if the proposal was discussed at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night.

The Cabinet meeting, summoned at a very short notice, comes amid reports of high tax penalty terrifying people from putting their cash savings in the formal banking system.

The sources said the government wants all of the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 banknotes to be deposited and not burnt or destroyed for the fear of penal action.

The Income Tax Department had previously warned that cash deposits above Rs. 2.5 lakh threshold post demonetisation decision could attract tax plus a 200 per cent penalty in case of income mismatch.

It was stated that the department was tracking all cash deposited during the period of November 10 to December 30, 2016, above a threshold of Rs. 2.5 lakh in every account.

This had instilled fear in people with reports of the banned currency even being destroyed.

The sources added that the government may come out with a deposit scheme or an instrument like bond where the cash savings in the banned notes could be deposited.

A 50-day window was given to holders of the old currency to deposit in their bank accounts. But the penal tax provisions were deterring many.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/