NUGDS Second Appeal to CIC : Central Information Commission decision on workload points of GDSBPM's

Date : 27.3.2017

NUGDS Second Appeal to CIC : Central Information Commission decision on workload points of GDSBPM's 

Chief Information Commissioner Hon'ble. Radha Krishna Mathur directed the Department of Posts to provide workload points information of all the GDSBPM's under Vijayawada Region in Andhra Pradesh Circle to NUGDS

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION ORDER Dt.20.3.2017.

NUGDS Representation to CIC Dt.7.3.17

CIC NOTICE TO APPELLANT & RESPONDENT Dt.23.2.2017

NUGDS SECOND APPEAL TO CIC :

RTI Application to CPIO Dt.30.5.2015

CPIO Reply Dt.30.6.2015

NUGDS First Appeal Dt.5.8.2015

Order of the First Appealate Authority Dt.14.9.2015

NUGDS SECOND APPEAL BEFORE CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION Dt.16.11.2015

Date : 27.3.2017

Narendra Modi Government eyeing all-encompassing social security scheme; employers not to remit top EPF thereafter

The proposed social security code will be implemented by a three-tier administrative structure with tripartite representation from workers, employers and government. (Reuters)

The Narendra Modi government has drawn up a plan to bring workers of almost all categories — including those in the unorganised sector, the self-employed, part-time and casual workers and those earning below the “minimum wage” — under a robust, well-defined and comprehensive social security net. An Aadhaar-based compulsory registration system for workers, portable social security account for each worker and a regulatory structure headed by the prime minister himself as the head of a National Social Security Council (NSSC) would be the salient features of the plan, according to a labour ministry note reviewed by FE.

Under the proposed Labour Code on Security and Welfare, contributions from workers and employers will be supplemented by government outlays (as welfare funds) to create Social Security Funds (SSFs) in each state. These funds would be used to provide assorted benefits to workers such as pension, provident fund, group insurance as well as sickness and maternity benefits, with the government pitching in where the workers themselves are unable to contribute. “The idea is to amalgamate and rationalise various existing laws, amplify them and give every worker the ‘right’ to the benefits rather than a goodwill gesture or appeasement initiative,” an official source said.

Currently, social security supports like the EPFO and ESIC benefits are largely limited to the organised sector workers, who are less than a fifth of the country’s estimated total workforce of 48 crore.

The proposed code is in addition to the two other codes — one on industrial relations which seek to enhance the ease of doing business by relaxing the labour market rigidities, and the wage code, which proposes making minimum wage a statutory right and extending it to all employees, rather than those engaged in 51 “scheduled employments” as at present.

The proposed social security code will be implemented by a three-tier administrative structure with tripartite representation from workers, employers and government. The proposed PM-led NSSC at the apex level will be assisted by a boards at the central and state/UT levels. It will be the responsibility of the local bodies to register all categories of workers via Aadhaar. The portal social security account — Vishwakarma Karmik Suraksha Khata (VIKAS) — linked to Aadhaar will be opened for each worker, with the facility of transfer when she changes job.

Significantly, the increased cost of a wider social security cover will not fall much on the industry. Once employers start contributing to SSC, they will cease to provide funds to the EPF, EPS and ESIC.

Employers’ contribution to SSF will be limited at a maximum of 17.5% of wage – with a provision for reduced rates if a cess is levied on the industry concerned such as construction and mining – and 2% of wage for gratuity fund. Workers’ contribution in the organised sector will be 12.5% of the wage/monthly income.

In the case of unorganised sector workers, workers won’t have to contribute anything if the wage/monthly income is less than the minimum wage to be determined based on an asset-based criteria and welfare funds to be set up by the centre and state government will pitch in. If earning is less than wage ceiling but more than or equal to the minimum wage, the worker contributions will be 12.5% of the minimum wage and if the earning is more than or equal to the wage ceiling, then such contribution will be 12.5% of the wage. In case of the self-employed, the above contributions will be 20% of the respective amounts. Currently, employers contribute 8.33% of the basic pay to EPS, 3.67% to EPF and 4.75% to ESIC.

Even while enhancing the social security cover for workers, the Modi government, as reported by FE earlier, is also taking many industry-friendly measures. Among the major proposals are introducing fixed-term employment – which was made applicable in the textile and garment industries last year – in all the sectors, allowing units employing up to 300 people to retrench/lay off workers and/or close down without government approval, making trade unions with negotiating powers more representative, barring outsiders from being office-bearers of unions in the organised sector and reducing such persons’ role in union activities in the unoranised sector. Also, an industrial strike would be defined afresh by including concerted casual leave by 50% of more workers while the provision for prior notice of strike would be extended to “all activities similar to existing public utility services.”

Under the SSC, administrative charges would be a maximum of 5% of the contribution rather than as a percentage of wages as prevalent at present effectively reducing the actual outgo. The Comptroller and Auditor General will audit the accounts of social security organisations. The code also make provisions for social audits of the schemes every five years. Regulator general of Social Security, director general and commissioner would be the executive heads of NSSC, central board and state board respectively. State board would appoint inspectors for the enforcement of the provisions of the code.

The Financial Express.

Reservation to SC, ST is Provided in the Matter of Promotion

Date : 26.3.2017

Reservation to SC, ST is Provided in the Matter of Promotion

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3227
ANSWERED ON: 22.03.2017

Promotion to Reserved Category

KAUSHAL KISHORE
Will the Minister of

PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the non-gazetted employees belonging to the SC/ST categories working with the Central Government and the autonomous institutions are not given promotion as per the reservation guidelines;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether a number of proposals for amendments in the rules for promotion are under consideration of the Government; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

ANSWER :

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) & (b): As per extant instructions, reservation to the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes is provided in the matter of promotion when promotion is made: (a) through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination in Group B, Group C and Group D posts; (b) by selection from Group B post to a Group A post or in Group B, Group C and Group D posts; and (c) by non-selection in Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D posts. Reservation in all the above cases is given at the rate of 15 per cent for the Scheduled Castes and 7.5 per cent for the Scheduled Tribes. However, reservation in promotion is not given in the grades in which the element of direct recruitment, if any, exceeds 75 per cent.

As per extant instructions, Autonomous Bodies/Institutions including Municipal Corporations, Cooperative Institutions etc. under the administrative control of the Central Government also provide reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in their services on the lines of the reservations in services under Central Government.

However, as desired by the Honble Supreme Court in Contempt Petition No.314/2016, conveyed to the Law Officer and intimated by him, instructions in pursuance were issued by Department of Personnel and Training on 30.9.2016 not to rely upon Office Memorandum of 10.08.2010 for implementation of own merit concept in promotion for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Due to this, there may be administrative difficulties while considering cases for promotion of employees, including SCs and STs, where selections in promotion have already been made on own merit or are to be made by applying own merit by the concerned cadre controlling authority.

(c): No, Madam.

(d): Does not arise in view of reply given to Part (c) above.

Source : Rajya Sabha

National Union Joint Bi-ennial Conference : Amalapuram Division.

Date : 26.3.2017

National Union Joint Bi-ennial Conference : Amalapuram Division.

Comparitive study on IPPB and Japan Post Bank held at Visakhapatnam on 22.3.2017 to 23.3.2017

Date : 25.3.2017

Comparitive study on IPPB and Japan Post Bank held at Visakhapatnam on 22.3.2017 to 23.3.2017

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Parliament has right to decide on members’ salaries: Govt

Date : 25.3.2017

Parliament has right to decide on members’ salaries: Govt

The Government has asserted “it is the sacrosanct right of Parliament” to decide on the perks and salaries of its members. Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar’s statement in the Lok Sabha on Friday came two days after the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Election Commission and the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha secretariats on whether those who have been legislators for a single day were entitled to pensions and allowances. 

“I think every member of the House agrees that the right of the House is sacrosanct. Parliament has every right to decide about salaries and allowances of MPs,” Kumar said and many MPs in the House approved his stand. “The entire House is with you on this issue,” he added as a remark to the Speaker, the custodian of the House. 

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley too made a similar statement in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Both were responding to some MPs who pointed out to the Supreme Court notice following a petition filed by an NGO. 

Raising the issue in the Lower House, Trinamool congress member Saugata alleged that while the apex court was “transgressing” its rights, Parliament was not asking why former judges were being given pension. 

“The Supreme Court is transgressing its rights. It is an exclusive right of Parliament to decide on the issue. We are not asking why SC judges are being paid pension. We should take a stand on the issue,” he said. 

After hearing preliminary arguments by NGO Lok Prahari, whose plea was rejected by the Allahabad High Court earlier, Justice Jasti Chelameswar had said on Wednesday that the court could not do much about pensionary entitlements of legislators but would address the unstructured nature of the allowances they were entitled to. 

Justice Chelameswar said there was nothing in wrong in former lawmakers getting some sort of pension but the court would ensure that some sort of norms and guidelines were laid down on entitlement to all allowances even after legislators had lost their seats.

The Economic Times

GDS issues in Lok Sabha

Date : 25.3.2017

GDS issues in Lok Sabha

Department of Posts awarded for outstanding performance in implementation of RTI Online Portal

Date : 24.3.2017

Department of Posts awarded for outstanding performance in implementation of RTI Online Portal