Centre Plans Changes in Labour Laws – ‘Flexible Working Hours’ implementation…

Since most of the labour laws being followed in this country were implemented prior to Independence and have therefore become redundant and outdated, the newly formed government at the centre, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, is seriously contemplating a revision of the existing laws. The Government intends to step up productivity by bringing forth these changes.

Changes in Britain: A law was recently implemented in Britain, one of the developed countries of the world. Employees working in factories and offices cannot be henceforth compelled to report to work at only a particular time. The law states that the employees shall be given flexi-time options to report to work at times that suit them and complete their tasks. For a casual observer, it might look as if the law is very pro-employee and anti-employer. But the law is actually intended to step up productivity. Experts in Britain felt that insisting on being seated for long hours or compelling workers to report to duty at a particular time or do only a particular task could be counterproductive. The changes were brought forth as a result.

Flexi-time work hours: The Indian Government too is planning to make similar changes in its labour laws. Changes like these, also known as “Flexible Working Hours”, are very likely to be implemented in India too, especially in the manufacturing sectors in order to step up the productivity. But these changes will be brought forth in such a manner that they bring forth the true potentials of the employees.

Also, changes like bringing in more and more workers within the minimum-wages slab, increasing overtime, enabling women to work in night shifts in factory environments, are also going to be implemented. The reforms are intended to minimize friction between the management and employees and thus increase productivity. As far as India is concerned, such reforms are only rarely implemented in the service sector, and almost never in the manufacturing sectors. Although India is the world’s third largest economy, more than 56% of the productivity comes from the service sector. Only 15% of the country’s productivity comes from the industrial and manufacturing sectors. In comparison, more than 45% of China’s productivity comes from its industrial workers.

The Government believes that there could be a tremendous increase in the country’s productivity by implementing reforms in the labour laws.

Source:http://centralgovernmentemployeesnews.in/2014/07/centre-plans-changes-in-labour-laws-flexible-working-hours/

Central Government may implement Performance based Incentives Schemes for government employees

Expected Dearness Allowance for July 2014 : AICPIN for the Month of May 2014.

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DoPT mulls incentive plans for ministries, departments

With the Narendra Modi regime pitching for corporate work-culture in government departments, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) may soon write to all Central ministries and departments to incentivise efficient workers by naming their respective best employee of the month, organizing "off-site retreats" for the staff and facilitating their direct interface with the departmental head from time to time.

Though the incentive plan is already under implementation in the DoPT, most other ministries and departments are yet to take a cue and introduce similar norms to motivate their staff by rewarding the efficient among them.

The DoPT, as part of the initiative, confers the title of "employee of the month" to the highest achiever, decided by a committee of joint secretaries of the department. The employee of the month is rewarded a certificate of excellence by the minister concerned. Also, "off-sites" or " DoPT retreats" are organised from time to time to discuss ideas and suggestion in a new and relaxed environment. Suggestions from employees, irrespective of their seniority, are encouraged through placement of suggestion boxes at vantage points across the DoPT office.

Besides, the personnel secretary has been meeting deputy secretary and director-level officers one-one-one, taking their inputs and suggestions on better functioning of the department.

"This incentive scheme for motivation of staff amounts is nothing but a stepping stone to corporatization of the government," a senior DoPT official said adding that the department may now write to other ministries/departments afresh to introduce similar incentives.

Meanwhile, the DoPT also plans to implement competency-based human resource management for the higher and middle level official is in Central government departments. A pilot project is already underway in the DoPT, which has mapped the required attributes for most departmental posts and is in the process of matching them with the knowledge, skills, ethics and attitude of the incumbents. Any gaps will be analysed and filled through refresher training.

"Until now, the bureaucrats were selected for a post based merely on their service records. Now, under the competency-based HR management, the attributes of each senior post in government departments will be mapped and selection will be based on who matches these attributes best," a DoPT official said adding that the new system may be introduced as soon as the DoPT pilot project is complete. 

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

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Central Government may implement Performance based Incentives Schemes for government employees

Central Government may implement Performance based Incentives Schemes for government employees

Following its mantra of maximum governance and minimum government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may implement performance-based incentives schemes for central government employees.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is slated to give a detailed presentation on Performance-Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS), which was recommended by Sixth Pay Commission and accepted by the UPA government, to the Prime Minister soon, officials said.

PRIS could not be implemented by the UPA government which had given its "in-principle" approval.

DoPT is likely to outline the salient features of the scheme aimed at improving governance in its presentation to Modi. "The detailed guidelines will be put in place after Prime Minister gives his go-ahead to it," a senior DoPT official said.

As per the draft guidelines framed during UPA's tenure, performance-related incentive will be payable taking into account the performance of the organisation and employees during the period under consideration.

There are about 50 lakh central government employees. "PRIS may prove to be a big game changer for improving governance and delivering maximum output. The Prime Minister may incorporate some new features," the official said.

The Prime Minister has already asked his Cabinet colleagues to set a 100-day agenda with focus on efficient governance, delivery and implementation of programmes.

Source: The Economic Times

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