RECOMMENDATIONS OF 7th CPC (CONTINUED -- 3rd PART)
OBSERVE 'BLACK DAY' ON 27 NOVEMBER 2015 AGAINST THE RETROGRADE RECOMMENDATIONS OF 7th CPC ---- CALL OF JCM STAFF SIDE (NATIONAL COUNCIL)
Comrades, in two earlier posts in this blog we have given briefs of pay/pension related issues and cadre related recommendations and observations. Already our Federation, Confederation and NCJCM have reacted strongly against this worst-ever pay commission.
Please jump into action for massive gathering on 27.11.15 to hold BLACK DAY and wear black badge (prepare in your division/unit). For explaining and campaigning among all postal employees irrespective of membership, we now present some talking points, which will throw some light on the reality.
TALKING POINTS
1. The primary concern of this Pay Commission was to reduce financial pressure on Central Govt. In para 2.1.16 and 2.1.19 of the report, the 7thCPC proudly announced how their recommendation might exert pressure on Central Govt even less than 6th CPC. They took pride in noting that while the PAP-GDP ratio of 6th CPC was 0.77, that of 7th CPC recommendation is 0.65. [Full form of PAP=Pay-Allowance-Pension, GDP=Gross Domestic Product].
2. US Federal Govt seemed to be an ideal for the 7th CPC. In a comparison in para 3.28 & 3.33, the CPC has cited that in 2012, the number of non-postal civilian worker under US Fed. Govt. was 21.30 lakh, while in India in 2014 it was 17.96 lakh. Thus, Govt employee per lakh population in USA & India is 668 & 139 respectively (USA is 2.8 times larger in size than India, but only one-fourth population of India). Our 7th CPC identified this disparity, but did not recommend our Central Govt to open appointment for unemployed youth in full throttle. Even the 6th CPC was bold and advised the then Govt to appoint youngsters in place of aging bureaucracy (6th CPC report para 6.3.10).
3. The 7th CPC has found that entry level pays of lowest level Govt employee and highest level employee (Secretary to the Govt of Indua) 'is not appropriate' (para 5.1.40, 5.1.41). They seemed to be satisfied that their recommendation would make this appropriate by making the Compression Ratio 1: 3.12.
But in reality, they have hidden the fact that what this CPC has recommended, would make the ratio between minimum and maximum pay 1: 13.8 (lowest pay Rs.18000/-, highest pay Rs.2,25000/- for Secretary level officers and Rs.2,50,000/- for Cabinet Secretary).
4. Public is misled by statements of increase of 23.5% increase, while the increase actually is 14.29%, which is approximately equal to two D.As only.
5. Instead of removing anomalies of MACP, 7th CPC has recommended to make MACP harder. Benchmark recommended is 'very good' from existing 'good'. Introduction of examination or mandatory training is advised.
6. We are not even entitled to annual increment (as low as 3%) smoothly. After 20 years of service,'non-performers' will be identified. They will get no increment and may quit the job on VRS scheme. The administration will be at their free-will to identify such employees to satisfy their grudge. And we know our administration and their sense of rationality.
7. Many advances are recommended to be abolished. This not only covers Festival Advance or Family Planning Allowance, please note carefully, LTC Advance, Transfer TA Advance, TA (for tour or training) Advance will also be abolished, only final bill will be accepted for sanctioning for these items.
8. The recommended minimum pay is Rs.18000/-with no D.A. from 01.01.2016. Presently it is Rs.7000+D.A.Rs.8750/- (considering 125% D.A. from January 2016)=Rs.15750/-. So, the increase is only Rs.2250/-. Moreover, the deduction for Group Insurance (CGEGIS) has been proposed to be Rs.1500/-, New Pension Scheme deduction will be Rs.1800/- (10% of pay) or GPF deduction 6%. So, the actual increase for lowest level employees is very very low.
9. The Child Care Leave has been proposed to be allowed with 80% salary for the 2nd 365 days term. While any civilised society should feel proud in extending such benefits to mothers for nurturing our future citizens ideally, the 7th CPC curtailed the benefit and commented in para 9.2.9 that it is a'liberal measure unmatched anywhere else' as if it is a charity without justification. The mindset behind this does not need clarification.
10.Upgradation of pay has been recommended to many officers in various departments/Ministries including our Inspector (Posts) cadre. But from the clerical level downwards, consideration was withdrawn. In case of our department, no benefit has been extended cadres below IPO. Even no justification/argument is noted by the 7th CPC behind such rejection.
11. The 7th CPC has admitted the fact that over the period of 10 years house rent increases. So, in order to enable Govt employees support house rent from their salary, it should be increased. But instead of increasing the rate of our HRA straightway, the CPC has taken few steps back and reduced the slab to 8, 16 & 24 %. Naturally, even though it increases when DA reaches 50% & 100%, the actual increase remains low as we start lower.
12. The offensive comments of the 7th CPC on the GDS cadre has already been given in our earlier post. While denying any benefit to them, the CPC has tried to pave way to keep GDS distant from our departmental cadres even more by proposing to separate wage head.
We shall publish a brief of observation/recommendation the 7th CPC has made on Contractual Employment in Central Govt Department/Ministries.
Comrades, please carry on organising and uniting our employees to protest such derogatory recommendations. Only movement of extreme intensity can halt the Govt from implementing them. Prepare for the battle.
9. The Child Care Leave has been proposed to be allowed with 80% salary for the 2nd 365 days term. While any civilised society should feel proud in extending such benefits to mothers for nurturing our future citizens ideally, the 7th CPC curtailed the benefit and commented in para 9.2.9 that it is a'liberal measure unmatched anywhere else' as if it is a charity without justification. The mindset behind this does not need clarification.
10.Upgradation of pay has been recommended to many officers in various departments/Ministries including our Inspector (Posts) cadre. But from the clerical level downwards, consideration was withdrawn. In case of our department, no benefit has been extended cadres below IPO. Even no justification/argument is noted by the 7th CPC behind such rejection.
11. The 7th CPC has admitted the fact that over the period of 10 years house rent increases. So, in order to enable Govt employees support house rent from their salary, it should be increased. But instead of increasing the rate of our HRA straightway, the CPC has taken few steps back and reduced the slab to 8, 16 & 24 %. Naturally, even though it increases when DA reaches 50% & 100%, the actual increase remains low as we start lower.
12. The offensive comments of the 7th CPC on the GDS cadre has already been given in our earlier post. While denying any benefit to them, the CPC has tried to pave way to keep GDS distant from our departmental cadres even more by proposing to separate wage head.
We shall publish a brief of observation/recommendation the 7th CPC has made on Contractual Employment in Central Govt Department/Ministries.
Comrades, please carry on organising and uniting our employees to protest such derogatory recommendations. Only movement of extreme intensity can halt the Govt from implementing them. Prepare for the battle.
Friday, November 20, 2015
RECOMMENDATIONS OF 7th CPC (CONTINUED)
In continuation with our earlier post in this blog on salary and pension-related items, we are now presenting the observation and recommendations of the CPC on different cadres of our department. Comrades may please note the level of extreme apathy with which the case of Gramin Dak Sevaks are rejected and arguments are concocted.
Tomorrow we shall publish some interesting features of the 7th CPC report and some analysis.
Postmasters Cadre :
· No clear recommendation for appearing in IP exam. Recommended to allow to appear for 25% posts of Sr PM, along with remaining 75% by IPs.
Inspector Posts Cadre :
· Recommended one step higher pay band each for IP 4200 to 4600, ASPO 4600 to 4800, SPOs 4800 to 5400.
PA Cadre :
· Demand was to elevate entry level qualification to graduation and grade pay to 4200. Turned down saying ‘no justification’. No explanation or argument behind the decision.
PA(SBCO) :
· Demand was GP 4200 as they are more identical with audit staff, not Postal Assistants. It is turned down. No cash handling allowance is considered.
Postman Cadre :
· Demand of initial GP 2000 to 2800 turned down.
PO-RMS Accountant Cadre :
· Demand was for new cadre. No observation recorded as it is related to cadre restructuring which is beyond jurisdiction of this CPC. Replacement of Pay Level is suggested for unorganized accountants in various Central Govt Departments.
System Administrators and Marketing Executives :
· Demand of separate cadre has been turned down on the argument that 5th & 6th CPC did not see any reason to form separate cadre and likewise, this CPC also does not see any justification for separate cadre for them.
Postal Dispensaries :
· This CPC agrees with recommendation of 6th CPC and suggests immediate merger of remaining 33 Postal Dispensaries in 10 Postal Circles with CGHS and include all Postal employees and pensioners under the coverage of CGHS.
Gramin Dak Sevaks :
· The 7th CPC is self-contradictory in defining the position of GDS. In para 3.10 and 3.11, the 7th CPC has broadly agreed with 3rd CPC and defined Central Govt employees are ‘all persons in the civil services of the Central Govt or holding Civil Posts under that Govt and paid salaries out of consolidated fund of India’.
As per this definition, GDS officials also qualify to be Central Govt employee. But possibly, the 7th CPC has constraint not to deny the stand of Central Govt in rejecting claim of GDS officials to include under this CPC. So, in para 11.8.50, the CPC has quoted Supreme Court’s order that GD Sevaks are holder of ‘Civil Posts’ but not Civilian Posts. On this argument the CPC has denied any comment on them. Thus, in defining status of GDS employees, this CPC has contradicted itself in these paras.
· The effort of deprivation does not end here. In para 3.70, the Commission has recommended that as GD Sevaks are not reckoned as Central Govt personnel, their pay & allowances should not be given from head ‘Salaries’ and a distinct separate head should be created by Department of Posts’ budget and accounts. This is a straightway effort to push the demand of GDS status away further and set the Govt free from liability.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF 7th CPC : SALIENT POINTS RELATED TO PAY & ALLOWANCES, ADVANCE, PENSION
Most significant recommendations on the above items are given below. There will be some more points on different cadre related issued and other items which will follow shortly.
PAY
Ø The uniform Fitment formula is 2.57. Effect from 01.01.2016.
Ø Annual increment remains 3%.
Ø To emphasize on the culture of performance, the Commission has recommended that all the non-performers in the system should be phased out after 20 years. The Commission has recommended that Performance Related Pay should be introduced in the government and that all Bonus payments should necessarily be linked with productivity.
Ø The Commission has reached the minimum pay as Rs.18000/- from 01.01.2016 after some calculations having 15thILC norms at its core (JCM staff side demanded Rs.26000/-). It is 2.57 times of the minimum wage (Rs.7000/-) fixed by the Govt on 6th CPC’s recomm. Hence all other levels are multiplied by 2.57.
Ø Running Pay Band with Grade Pay has been proposed to be substituted by Pay Matrix with Pay Level (1 to 18).
Ø Demand of increasing frequency of MACP is turned down and it will continue to take place after 10/20/30 years of service. But benchmark is proposed to be made ‘very good’ from present ‘good’. More stringent criteria or passing deptl examination or mandatory training before granting MACP is proposed for consideration of Govt.
Ø Withholding annual increment for non-performers after 20 years of service is proposed, but not as a punishment, as an ‘efficiency bar’. Otherwise they may quit service with terms and conditions of VRS.
Ø The Commission, after its interaction with the authorities of Australia and New Zealand feels that India should also have a permanent Remuneration Authority that should review the pay structure in future.
Allowances
Out of 196 allowances, 52 proposed to be abolished. Another 36 is subsumed in some new proposed allowances.
Ø Cash Handling Allowance is proposed to be abolished.
Ø Cycle Allowance, Funeral Allowance abolished.
Ø D.A. status quo.
Ø Hard Area Allowance, retained and rationalized.
Ø HRA, LTC, mobile phone, newspaper retained and rationalized.
Ø OTA abolished, OSA not included in report.
Ø SB Allowance abolished.
Ø Sunderban Allowance --- Abolished as a separate allowance. Subsumed in Tough Location Allowance-III. To be paid as per Cell R3H3 of the newly proposed Risk and Hardship Matrix.
Ø Transfer TA, Transport Allowance retained, rationalized.
Ø Treasury Allowance abolished.
Ø Uniform & Washing Allowance abolished as separate allowance, Subsumed in new Dress Allowance (Rs.5000/- per year to be credited in July).
Ø FPA abolished.
HRA
· Recommended to be revised to 24, 16, 8 % now respectively for X, Y and Z class cities. After DA reaches 50% it will become 27, 18, 9%. After DA reaches 100% it will become 30, 20, 10%.
CEA :
· CEA is proposed Rs.2250/- p.m. When DA increases by 50%, it will increase by 25%.
· Hostel subsidy Rs.6750/- p.m. (ceiling). When DA increases by 50%, it will increase by 25%.
· Reimbursement once in a year after completion of financial year.
ADVANCE
· All interest-free advances are proposed to be abolished. This covers Cycle Adv, Festival Adv, Transfer TA Adv, LTC Adv, TA Adv, Advance of Medical Treatment etc.
· Car/Scooter Adv abolished.
· Computer Adv--- 50000/- or lower whichever is least maximum for 5 times in service life.
· HBA --- 34 times of basic pay / Rs.25 lakh / Actual price whichever is less.
LEAVE :
· CL same.
· CCL with 100% salary for 1st 365 days, 80% of salary for next 365 days.
· CCL for single male parent is recommended.
· Commuted leave same.
· EL – no change for us.
· EOL, HPL, LND, Maternity, Paternity, Study Leave, Gazetted, Restricted Holiday same.
· Spl CL --- not categorical, but restriction is suggested on purpose and number of days.
CGEGIS :
· Monthly deduction and insurance amount increased.
· Savings Fund to Insurance Fund ratio is recommended to make 75:25 from present 70:30.
GPF :
· Status quo.
CGHS / Health Benefits to Employees / Pensioners
· Introduction of new Health Insurance Scheme has been strongly recommended. Till then, for pensioners beyond CGHS area, it is suggested that CGHS should empanel all hospitals empanelled under CS(MA) Rules.
· Remaining 33 Postal Dispensaries are proposed to be merged with CGHS.
· Other Health Care Schemes in various Central Govt Dept be merged in one single new scheme.
Persons with disabilities :
· All existing facilities retained, some are made better.
· Suitable building architecture for easy access is suggested.
· Setting up a Welfare Committee in each Ministry is recommended.
Pension & Retirement Benefits :
· No increase in rate of pension/family pension.
· Ceiling of gratuity be made Rs.20 lakh from existing Rs.10 lakh. It will increase by 25% whenever DA rises by 50%. In case of death gratuity, new slab is introduced.
· No increase in Fixed Medical Allowance.
Training :
· The Commission has noted that training is a ‘low priority area’ suffering from lack of fund. Recommended 2.5% of salary budget for training through creating separate budget head.
Source : WB Circle Union
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