CHILDREN EDUCATION ALLOWANCE IN 7TH CPC - SOME PERSPECTIVES

The 7th pay commission, which is much expected by all the Central Government Employees, has submitted its report to the government. In its report, the commission has specified that the new pay commission has to be implemented from 01/01/2016 onwards.

The expectations of all the Central Government Employees is focused on: Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Children Education Allowance.

The fact that the 6th Pay Commission revived the CEA can never be repudiated. Although there are various problems in getting the reimbursement of the allowance, the 6th Pay Commission stands first when it comes to CEA.

 7th CPC recommended CEA Rs 2250 pm from existing Rs 1500pm.

The 7th Pay Commission has taken great pains to do away with the practical problems in 6th CPC (Reimbursement).

Particularly, the recommendation that getting a letter from the schools where the children of the Central Government Employees studying is enough will be certainly welcomed by all.

In order to get CEA for those children, who study in the same school from class 1 to class 12, is it necessary to get a certificate for every year? Or is it enough to get a certificate when the child is transferred to another school?

Questions like these naturally arise in our minds.

Getting good education is depends upon getting admission in standard schools. Naturally fees struture is high in these schools.So education expenses get important place in employees monthly budget.

The fact that same amount of CEA will be given for children who study in class 1 and class 12 is irrational. From class 1, every year when the child goes to higher classes, the minimal sum of  Rs 2250 has to be increased by atleast 5%.

As per the recommendation of the 7th CPC, when DA exceeds 50%, the CEA increases by 25%. In this case, even to get the first CEA increase one has to wait for at least four or five years. We have to keep in mind that the pay commission is set up only once in ten years.

In spite of all these, the CEA announcement of the 7th CPC is a certainly a laudable one. If it had included the above aspects if would have been even more appreciable.

S.Ratheesh

Source:www.centralgovernmentemployeesportal.blogspot.in

Read More »

Payment of Bonus Act Amendment Gazette Notification

The Gazette of India

EXTRAORDINARY

PART II — Section 1

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

[No. 6] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016/PAUSHA 11, 1937 (SAKA)

Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation.

MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE

(Legislative Department)

New Delhi, the 1st January, 2016/Pausha 11, 1937 (Saka)

THE PAYMENT OF BONUS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2015

NO. 6 OF 2016

[31st December, 2015.]

An Act further to amend the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1. (1) This Act may be called the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015.

(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of April, 2014.

2. In section 2 of the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in clause (13), for the words ‘‘ten thousand rupees’’, the words ‘‘twenty-one thousand rupees’’ shall be substituted.

3. In section 12 of the principal Act,—

(i) for the words ‘‘three thousand and five hundred rupees’’ at both the places where they occur, the words ‘‘seven thousand rupees or the minimum wage for the scheduled employment, as fixed by the appropriate Government, whichever is higher’’ shall respectively be substituted;

(ii) the following Explanation shall be inserted at the end, namely:—

‘Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, the expression ‘‘scheduled employment’’ shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (g) of section 2 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.’.

4. In section 38 of the principal Act, for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:—

‘‘(1) The Central Government may, subject to the condition of previous publication, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.’’.

DR. G. NARAYANA RAJU,

Secretary to the Govt. of India.

Courtesy: www.employeesnews.net

Read More »

Raise income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh: Central Trade Unions

New Delhi: Trade unions today asked the government to increase the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh and the minimum wage to Rs 18,000 besides raising the minimum monthly pension to Rs 3,000 for all.

They also sought a special package for victims of the recent Tamil Nadu floods.

These demands were raised under a 15-point charter submitted by 11 central trade unions to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley during pre-Budget consultations held here. The Union Budget for the next financial year, 2016-17, is slated to be presented in Parliament in February end. It will take effect from April 1.

“We have demanded a minimum wage of Rs 18,000 per month which is higher than our earlier demand of Rs 15,000,” Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh Zonal Organisation Secretary Pawan Kumar said after the meeting.

The Seventh Pay Commission has recommended Rs 18,000 as minimum monthly wage for central government employees and it should be the benchmark, he said.

All Indian Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said: “We have also demanded Rs 3,000 minimum monthly pension for all and asked for a special package for flood ravaged Tamil Nadu to provide relief to workers as well as industry in the next Budget.”

Sachdev said that in view of price rise “we have also demanded from the government to increase the income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh per annum”.

The union have also asked that fringe benefits like housing, medical and educational facilities and running allowances in railways should be exempted from Income Tax.

Unions also demanded that PSUs should be strengthened and expanded and the disinvestment of government shares in profit making PSUs should be stopped.

Besides, they said that the budgetary support should be provided for revival of potentially viable sick PSUs.

On the price rise, the charter said: “Take effective measures to arrest the spiralling price rise especially of food and essential items of daily use. Ban speculative forward trading in essential commodities, check on hoarding and universalise and strengthen Public Distribution System.”

Expressing concerns over steel and aluminium sectors, the unions said: “Relentless and increasing flow of import of industrial commodities including capital goods must be contained and regulated to prevent dumping and also to protect and promote domestic industries and prevent loss of employment.”

It also said that “FDI should not be allowed in crucial sectors like defence production, Railways, financial sector, retail trade and other strategic sectors. In other areas, terms and conditions for FDI should be made public.”

PTI

Read More »

Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 - Submission of Declaration of Immovable Property Returns by the Government Servants - regarding.

F. No. 11013/7/2014-Estt.A-III

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

Establishment Division

North Block, New Delhi - 110001

Dated 5th January, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 - Submission of Declaration of Immovable Property Returns by the Government Servants - regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to the Office Memorandum of even number dated the 26th October, 2015 on the above subject and to say that the Annual Property Returns required to be filed under the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 for the year 2015 which is required to be filed by the 31st January, 2016, may be filed in the forms prescribed under the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964. It is reiterated that the returns are required to be filed by all the Government servants belonging to Group 'A', 'B', 'C' and erstwhile Group 'D', in terms of Rule 18(4) of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 which empowers the Government to require a Government servant to submit a statement of movable or immovable property as may be specified in the order.

Sd/-

(Mukesh Chaturvedi)

Director (Establishment) 

Source:http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/11013_7_2014-Estt.A-III-05012016.pdf

Read More »

Posting of Government employees who have differently abled dependents- reg.

No.42011/3/2014-Estt.(Res)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Department of Personnel and Training

North Block, New Delhi,

dated the 05th January, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Posting of Government employees who have differently abled dependents- reg.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s OM of even number dated 06.06.2014 and 17.11.2014 exempting a Government employee, who is also a care giver of disabled child, from the routine exercise of transfer/rotational transfer subject to the administrative constraints. The word ‘disabled’ includes (i) blindness or low vision (ii) hearing impairment (iii) locomotor disability or cerebral palsy (iv) leprosy cured (v) mental retardation (vi) mental illness (vii) multiple disabilities and (viii) autism.

2. The matter regarding the scope of ‘disabled’ has been examined in consultation with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Considering the fact that the child suffering from “Thalassemia” and “Haemophilia” requires constant caregiver support and it would be imperative for the Government employees to take care of their child suffering from “Thalassemia” and “Haemophilia” on continuous basis, it has been decided to include “Thalassemia” and “Haemophilia” in the term of ‘disabled’ defined in Para 3 of the above mentioned OM dated o6.06.2014-

3. The term ‘disabled’ as defined herein and in OM dated 06.06.2014 and 17.11.2014 is applicable only as grounds for seeking exemption from routine transfer/rotational transfer of a Government employee who have disabled child.

4. All the Ministries/Departments are requested to bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned under their control.

Encl: As above.

Sd/-

(G. Srinivasan)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source:http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02adm/42011_3_2014-Estt.Res.-05012016.pdf

Read More »

Decrease in Take Home Salary from 6th to 7th CPC – IRTSA

7th CPC PAY HIKE – IS IT A HIKE OR A FARCE ?

THE CAUSE IS HIDDEN

THE EFFECT IS VISIBLE TO ALL

7th CPC has submitted its report to the Government and the additional expenditure projected by the PAY Commission is of 1.02 lakh rupees. As outsiders many of the country men started crying hoarse that the Govt. employees are taking away lions’ share of its income.

Out of the projected 1.02 lakh hike, just above 1/4th is going to be borne by Indian Railways within its own budget; centre has to bear 1/4th towards pension, 1/4th towards allowances and only 1/4th towards Pay. Govt. need to borne only Rs.27,750 crores towards increase in pay. Allowances need not be taken as higher expenditure since they are part of compensation towards inflation and expenditure incurred in discharge of official duties.

7th CPC itself observed that financial impact on account of increase in pay, allowances & pension will be 23.55%. Increase on account of Pay & DA (excluding other allowances) will be to the tune of 16%. At present, without implementing 7th CPC Report, Year on year increase in the expenditure in both pay and pension has averaged about 11% of the Central Expenditure. Thus real increase on account of increase in pay, all allowances & pension will be only 12.55% (23.55% – 11% = 12.55%). Real increase on account of Pay & DA will be only 5% (16% – 11% = 5%).

IS THERE A REAL INCREASE IN TAKE HOME PAY?

Real increase in minimum wage between 6th CPC & recommended 7th CPC scales will be Rs.2250. Employees’ contribution to National Pension scheme will increase from Rs.700 to Rs.1800 and for CGEGIS it will increase from present Rs.30 to Rs.1500. Therefore increase in real wage (take home pay) of Rs.2250 will be eaten away by Rs.900 increased contribution for NPS plus Rs.1500 for CGEGIS. Net take home pay will have a negative growth of Rs.320 (Rs.1100 + Rs.1470 – Rs.2250 = Rs. – 320) as illustrated in the table below:

WILL THERE BE ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE DUE TO PAY HIKE RECOMMENDED BY 7TH CPC?

Government will take back into its treasury Rs. 6500 crores from increased monthly contribution towards CGEGIS and another Rs.2500 crores towards employees’ contribution for NPS from 11 lakh employees appointed after 1.1.2004. After reducing Rs.9000 crore from Rs.27,750 crore (projected increase in pay), net additional expense towards Pay will be around Rs.18,750 crores only. Even this additional expenditure is not true.

Total Expenditure on Pay & Allowance in FY 2012- 13 was Rs.1,29,599 crore. If it is indexed by 11% increase year on year, in the FY 2015-16 even without implementing 7th CPC recommendations increase on account of Pay & Allowances will be around Rs.19,500 crore. Therefore Government is not going to have any additional expenditure on account of Pay increase after the implementation of 7th CPC Report as per its recommendations.

For 2012-13, revenues foregone through various concessions to various sections are estimated at a total of Rs.5,73,627 crore which was 10 per cent higher than the total fiscal deficit of the Central Government, financial experts say, concessions must be given to have accelerated economic growth. Government employees are exposed to negative growth in their real wage – but who cares?

Source:www.irtsa.net

Read More »

Web Based Cadre Management System – updation of data of CSS/CSSS/CSCS Officers

21/1/2014-CS.I (PR/CMS)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions

Department of Personnel & Training

2nd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi-110003

Dated the 31st December, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Web Based Cadre Management System – updation of data of CSS/CSSS/CSCS Officers

As Ministries/Departments are aware, the Web Based Cadre Management System for CSS, CSSS and CSCS has been operational since January, 2013. The system is hosted at cscms.nic.in. Despite lapse of more than two years, complete and upto date data is still not available in the system in respect of several officers. The prime objective of the web based system is to ensure accurate real time data of all the officers to enable quicker decisions relating to cadre management functions. Unless the data is maintained upto date, the purpose of the web based system will be defeated.

2. Nodal Officers in all the Ministries/Departments are, therefore, requested as under:

(a) Employee module: Nodal officers should ensure that correct and up to date personal information in respect of all personnel posted there is available. Nodal officers have been empowered to modify/correct (i) Employee details (ii) Basis Details (iii) Address details (iv) Training details and (v) qualification details. All the officers belonging to GSS/CSSS/CSCS may also be advised to verify their data in the system and bring discrepancies to the notice of the nodal officers for correction. If there is any difficulty in this regard, nodal officers should call CMC Ltd. Engineers at Tele: 24629890.

(b) Experience and Promotion data: CS.I Division will modify data in these two fields. If any modification is required duly certified information may be sent to CS Division for correction.

(c) Pay: Please ensure that pay of the officer is correctly indicated in the system. After drawl of increment on 1 st July every year the data should be corrected.

(d) APAR: Ensure that APAR grading is entered in the system and the APAR is scanned and uploaded in the system. If there is any difficulty in this regard, please call the CMC Ltd. Engineers at Tele: 24629890.

(e) IPR and Lokpal return: All the officers of CSS/CSSS/CSCS are requested to file their returns online. It may be noted that defaulting officers will not be granted cadre clearance for deputation, foreign training, empanelment etc.

(f) Deputation: Ensure that all Officers apply for cadre clearance through the system. If any application is received in CS.I Division without online application it will not be entertained. Prior to forwarding application online, nodal officers should also ensure that correct and up to date information of the officer concerned is available in the system.

(g) Foreign Training: All nominations for foreign training should be processed through the web based cadre management system in respect of all Officers. Their reliving for the training will also be updated in the system to capture the details of foreign trainings attended. If the training period is more than three months, the nodal officers will forward the online request to CS.I Division for cadre clearance in respect of US and above level officers.

(h) Domestic Training: All nominations for domestic training should be processed through the web based cadre management system in respect of all officers. If the training period is exceeding one year, the nodal officers will forward the online request to CS.I Division for further processing in respect of US and above level officers.

(i) Permission to visit abroad: All requests for private foreign visits should be processed through the web based cadre management system to capture such information.

(j) Furnishing of information of death of an employee: In case of death of an employee, the nodal officer of the Ministry/Department concerned will henceforth immediately update the information in the web based system to enable capture of the vacancy to facilitate provision of a substitute.

(k) Furnishing of information of long leave of an employee: If any employee proceeds on leave for six months or more, the nodal officer concerned should update the information in the web based system immediately to capture the vacancy to facilitate provision of a substitute.

(l) Voluntary Retirement: CS.I Division conveys . approval of MoS (PP) for voluntary retirement of US and above level officers of CSS. Henceforth, if the request for voluntary retirement is not received through the system, the same will not be entertained.

(m) Resignation: Resignation requests from employees should be obtained and processed in the web based system so that such vacancies are brought to the notice of the cadre controlling authority immediately.

(n) Technical resignation: Requests for technical resignation to join another employment under the Government should also be obtained and processed in the web based cadre management system.

(o) Vigilance status: Vigilance clearance whenever required in connection with cadre management activities will be sought and obtained through the system. In respect of US and above level officer it will be updated both by the Ministries!Department and by AVD.I of DoP&T. Upto SO level, Ministries/Departments will update the system.

3. This circular may be brought to the notice of all CSS Officers for their information and active cooperation to ensure correctness of data.

4. Nodal officers may also depute their subordinates to CS.I Division to clear doubts if any about the functioning of the system.

Sd/- 

(V.Srinivasaragavan)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source:http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02csd/CMSupdation0001.pdf

Read More »

Expected DA January 2016 - AICPIN for the month of November 2015

No. 5/1/2015-CPI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT

LABOUR BUREAU

CLEREMONT, SHIMLA-171004

DATED: 31st December, 2015

Press Release

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

The All-India CPI-IW for November, 2015 increased by 1 point and pegged at 270 (two hundred and seventy). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by (+) 0.37 per cent between October and November, 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 (+) 0.64 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Wheat, Urd Dal, Mustard Oil, Eggs (Hen), Milk, Chillies-Dry, Garlic, Carrot, Lady’s Finger, Peas, Potato, Tomato, Tea (Readymade), Sugar, Flower/Flower Garlands, Tailoring Charges, etc. are responsible for the increase in index. However, this increase was restricted by Chillies Green, Onion, Brinjal, Cauliflower, Green Coriander Leaves, Methi, Radish, etc., putting downward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 6.72 per cent for November, 2015 as compared to 6.32 per cent for the previous month and 4.12 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 7.86 per cent against 7.50 per cent of the previous month and 2.56 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. At centre level, Madurai reported the highest increase of 11 points followed by Tiruchirapally (9 points), Jalandhar, Puducherry and Salem (7points each) and Mundakkayam (6 points). Among others, 4 points rise was observed in 5 centres, 3 points in 7 centres, 2 points in 12 centres and 1 point in 10 centres. On the contrary, Jamshedpur, Tripura and Rangapara-Tezpur recorded a maximum decrease of 4 points each followed by Kolkata, Amritsar and Kodarma (3 points each). Among others, 2 points decrease was observed in 13 centres and 1 point in 8 centres. Rest of the 11 centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 36 centres are above All India Index and other 41 centres’ indices are below national average. The index of Salem centre remained at par with all-India index.

The next issue of CPI-IW for the month of December, 2015 will be released on Friday, 29th January, 2016. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureau.gov.in.

Sd/-

(SHYAM SINGH NEGI)

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL

Source: http://labourbureau.nic.in/

Read More »

Anomaly in Pension Fixation as per 7th Pay Commission Recommendations

Anomaly in Pension Fixation as per 7th Pay Commission Recommendations

One of our regular reader Mr.Visvesvara M K has expressed his views about the calculation of pension for pre-20016 pensioners as per the 7th Pay Commission.

There is an anomaly in pension fixation of pre-2016 pensioners as per 7th CPC recommendations. The 7th CPC has offered two options.

Option I:

Pension calculated by multiplying pension fixed by VI CPC by a multiplying factor of 2.57.

Option II:

Notional pay to be determined by multiplying entry pay under appropriate e Grad Pay and Level taking into consideration number of increments earned in the pay scale from which one retires. 50 % of this notional pay is the pension w.e.f. 1-1-2016.

Whichever pension of Option I and Option II is higher is the pension.

ANOMALY:

If one gets a promotion to higher post in which he serves for less than one year there is no increment earned. 50% of this notional pay as per Pay Matrix of the VII CPC will be pension w.e.f. 1-1-2016 and this pension under Option II is always and always lower than the Pension under OPTION I. Thus, there is no choice for him.

SOLUTION:

It is common to observe that most of the pensioners retired on superannuation after serving in a higher post on promotion will be retiring within a year or so and the increments earned by them in that pay scale is nil or meager compared to the increments earned in the immediate lower pay scale from which he was promoted and this fact seems to have been given a goby. Pensioner who does not earn any increments in the pay scale on promotion which may be only an extension of the lower pay scale should have his increments earned in the lower pay scale counted for calculation of the notional pay which is a part and parcel of the pay scale to which he is promoted.

Read More »

Committee set up to Review Wage Structure of Gramin Dak Sevaks

A one man Committee to examine the wage structure, service conditions, etc. of the Gramin Dak Sevaks in the Department of Posts has been constituted by the Government of India.

Shri Kamlesh Chandra, Retired Member of Postal Services Board, will constitute the Committee. The Committee will be assisted by Shri T.Q. Mohammad, a Senior Administrative Grade Officer, who will act as Secretary to the GDS Committee. The Committee will go into the service conditions of Gramin Dak Sevaks and suggest changes as considered necessary. The terms of reference of the Committee will, inter-alia, include the following:-

a) To examine the system of Branch Post Offices, engagement conditions and the existing structure of wage and enrolments paid to the Gramin Dak Sevaks and recommend necessary changes;

b) To review the existing Services Discharge Benefits Scheme/other social security benefits for the Gramin Dak Sevaks and suggest necessary changes;

c) To review the existing facilities/welfare measures provided to the Gramin Dak Sevaks and suggest necessary changes;

d) To examine and suggest any changes in the method of engagement, minimum qualification for engagement as Gramin Dak Sevaks and their conduct and disciplinary rules, particularly keeping in view the proposed induction of technology in the Rural Post Offices.

The Department of Post has 2.6 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks. All these GDSs will come under the purview of GDS Committee.

Read More »