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78.2% IDA MERGER- SECRETARY, DoT APPROVES FINAL CABINET NOTE; BUT PROCEDURES TO BE REPEATED.

Today, 13th June, 2016, Com. K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary  had a detailed talk with Shri. S. K. Jain, DDG (Estt), DoT on 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL Pensioners retired before 10-06-2013.  The DDG has stated that the final cabinet note, incorporating the modifications sought by the Cabinet Secretariat, has been approved by Shri. J. S. Deepak, Secretary, DoT on 13-06-2016 and they have already started the work of preparing Hindi translation and required number of copies etc. Thereafter it will again be submitted to the Secretary, DoT for signing the covering letter for forwarding to the Cabinet Secretariat.

General Secretary pointed out that 3 years have already passed since the benefit was extended to the serving BSNL employees and many pensioners have expired without getting the benefit. He urged  DDG to avoid further delay and the DDG assured every thing possible at his end.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN FRANCE ? WE ARE REPRODUCING THE EDITORIAL OF THE HINDU DATED 11-06-2016.

 

Growing unrest in France

France is no stranger to strikes. But weeks-long unrest by left-leaning labour unions against the policies of a Socialist government is unprecedented. The unions that began the strike on May 17 are demanding that the government abandon a bill to reform France’s strict labour laws. If the bill is passed in Parliament or taken to law through a decree, employers will be allowed to negotiate the 35-hour maximum working week and severance payments if they need to downsize the workforce in times of financial difficulty. The government says overhauling the labour laws is necessary for job creation, and that it is part of a larger reform push to spur economic growth. Growth is stalled at around 1 per cent. The unemployment rate hovers at more than 10 per cent, twice that of Germany. Youth unemployment is stubbornly high at 25 per cent. François Hollande, one of the most unpopular presidents in modern France, has to jump-start reforms to spur growth before next year’s presidential elections.

But the question is whether Mr. Hollande can accomplish this while antagonising the unions that helped him come to power four years ago. Before the 2012 elections, he had presented himself as an ally of the working population and vowed to squeeze the wealthy to protect France’s egalitarianism. But once in power, Mr. Hollande turned business-friendly, and the constituency that elected him felt betrayed. The government appears determined to move ahead with the reform plan despite the strike, which has already affected fuel distribution in parts of France. However, over the past two months the unions have demonstrated that they have mass support for the protests. Since March 31, tens of thousands of French citizens have taken to the streets against the government. Also, a section of the ruling Socialist Party is opposed to the government’s economic policies. Unilaterally proceeding with the legislation could deepen rifts within the party and trigger more public unrest. These protests come at a particularly delicate time for France. The country is already under a state of emergency. After last November’s Paris attacks, it remains on heightened alert. The European Championship football tournament began in Paris on Friday, and its successful conduct needs the help of France’s workers and security personnel. In such a scenario, the last thing the country needs is an open showdown between workers and the government. In the end, there may be no option available to either but a compromise. The government must realise the limits of high-handedness and unilateralism, just as the unions need to face up to the reality that the French economy, fired by government and European Union subsidies and a publicly funded welfare system, cannot hold amid stalled growth.

PAY REVISION COMMITTEE FORMED

 

The government has formed the 3rd Pay Revision Committee (PRC) for the revision of pay scales, perquisites, etc., of the Board Level and Below Board level officers and Non-Unionised supervisors in the Central Public Enterprises.  Justice Satish Chandra (Retd.) is the Chairman. The PRC will submit it’s report within 6 months and the wage revision will be implemented from 01.01.2017. Pay revision for the non executives will be through bilateral negotiation between the recognised unions and the management.

The gazette notification issued in this regard is given below:

MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (Department of Public Enterprises)

RESOLUTION New Delhi, the 9th June, 2016 No. W-08/0005/2016-DPE (WC).—

Recognizing that in the prevailing business environment in the country and in the world, the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) have to be commercially viable and competitive, and that the employees of the CPSEs have to be provided with suitable working conditions, emoluments and incentives to motivate them to strive for further growth, productivity and profitability of their enterprises, the Government of India has decided to review and revise the existing structure of salary and emoluments of the CPSE executives.

2.1 The competent authority has decided to appoint the 3rd Pay Revision Committee (3rd PRC) comprising of the following:

Chairman : Justice Satish Chandra (Retd) Members : (i) Shri Jugal Mohapatra, Ex-IAS Officer (ii) Prof. Manoj Panda, Director, Institute for Economic Growth, Delhi (iii) Shri Shailendra Pal Singh, Ex Director (HR), NTPC Ltd. Ex-Officio Member : Secretary, DPE, Government of India Member Secretary : Jt. Secretary/Additional Secretary, DPE, Government of India.

2.2 The terms of reference of the Committee are follows:

2.2.1 The Committee will review the structure of pay scales, allowances, perquisites, and other benefits for the following categories in CPSE taking into account the salary, emoluments, incentives and other benefits (including non-monetary benefits) available to them and suggest changes which may be desirable, feasible and affordable:

(i) Board level functionaries (ii) Below board level executives (iii) Non-unionized supervisory staf

f 2.2.2 The Committee will make recommendations to enable CPSEs to become modern, professional, consumer friendly, commercially successful and competitive entities committed to national development goals and dedicated to the service of the people.

2.2.3 The Committee will devise a comprehensive pay package for categories of employees of CPSEs mentioned at sub-para 2.2.1 above that is suitably linked to promoting efficiency, productivity and profitability of CPSEs through rationalization of structures, systems and processes in the CPSEs with a view to leverage latest technology, management skills, global best practices, while ensuring accountability, responsibility, discipline and transparency in the operations and processes of these organizations.

2.2.4 While devising a suitable pay and compensation structure for the executives and the non-unionized supervisors of the CPSEs, the Committee will take into account the existing pattern of scales based on Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) and Central Dearness Allowance (CDA) pattern, wherever applicable, the prevalent categorization of CPSEs into ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Schedule, the status of Maharatna, Navratna, Miniratna bestowed on the CPSEs, the overall condition of the loss/ marginal profit making CPSEs, and those CPSEs, which by the very nature of their business, are not-for-profit companies (registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956, or under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013).

2.2.5 The committee will make recommendations as would equip the CPSEs to compete in the emerging domestic and global economic scenario taking into consideration the special role of public sector, the demands and expectations of the stakeholders including the Government, the need to observe financial prudence in the management of CPSEs due to resource constraints, economic conditions, and the requirements of social and economic development in the country. 4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART I—SEC. 1]

2.2.6 The Committee will examine the concerns of the CPSEs including the general principles, financial parameters and conditions which should govern the desirability, feasibility and continuation/modification of the Productivity Linked Incentives Scheme and Performance Related Payments.

2.2.7 While finalizing its report, the Committee will also take into account the report of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

3. The Committee may devise its own procedures as may be considered necessary for fulfilling the task assigned to it. Ministries and Departments of the Government of India and the State Governments will furnish such relevant information and documents as may be required by the Committee and which they are in a position and at liberty to give, and extend the necessary cooperation and assistance to it.

4. The Committee will make its recommendations to the Government within a period of six months from the date of its constitution and have its headquarters in Delhi. 5. The decision of the Government on the recommendations of the Committee will take effect from 1.1.2017. 6. The Committee will be serviced by the Department of Public Enterprises.

RAJESH KUMAR CHAUDHRY,

HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENT ON MINIMUM WAGES OF CASUAL/CONTRACT WORKERS IN KERALA.

 

After 5 months of militant struggle, in which leaders of BSNLEU and SNEA were suspended, transferred and charge-sheeted, the Kerala BSNL contract workers have won their demands for higher wages. As the orders issued on the basis of the agreement reached between the union and the circle Management,  the new rates are as follows:

  1. Unskilled Labour : Rs.318 ( Rs. 236 earlier)
  2. Semiskilled Labour: Rs. 343 (Rs. 258 earlier)
  3. Skilled Labour : Rs. 351 (Rs. 258 earlier)
  4. Out door workers will get Rs.17/- as transport allowance.
  5. Variable DA will be in addition.
  6. These rates will be implemented from 1st August 2015.
  7. These rates are based on the minimum wages for Kerala State.

We congratulate the BSNLEU, BSNLCCWF and SNEA leaders and workers who organised the struggle and fought to the end. Com.K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary BSNLEU and Circle President BSNLCCWF, N.R.Somasekharan Nair, CS, BSNLCCLU and George Verghese, then CS ,SNEA along with the other leaders in the circle led the militant struggle. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF, P.Abhimanyu, GS BSNLEU and K.Sebastin, GS SNEA and other leaders from CHQ negotiated with the BSNL Management at each and every stage.

Congratulations for the casual contract workers of Kerala for their great victory!

CALL DRPOPS= TRAI TO IMPRISON,FINE VIOLATORS.

NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has sought powers to levy a penalty of up to Rs 10 crore and a jail term of up to two years on executives of telecom companies that fail to meet regulations set by it.In a letter written to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the regulator has suggested amendments in the Trai Act 1997, so that it may function as an effective regulator.

A senior official of the DoT confirmed receiving the letter which says that regulator has sought amendment in Section 29 of the Trai Act 1997 to include penalty as well as a jail term for offenders.”Section 29 may be substituted with… If a person violates direction of the authority, such personnel shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be extended to two years and shall be liable to fine which may be extended to Rs 15 lakh,” the regulator has written.

It further added that if a service provider violates any direction, order or regulations made under this Act or terms and condition of license. 

The telecom regulator had mandated telcos to pay Rs 1 for each dropped call, subject to maximum Rs 3 per day, beginning January 1. The apex court later struck it down after companies appealed against it.

At present, Trai can impose fine of up to Rs 2 lakh for a violation and in case default continues, penalty of Rs 2 lakh can be imposed till the time of breach of rules.

If the operator doesn’t comply, Trai can file a legal case against operators.

( The Economic Times)

CAG criticises DOT for loss of revenue – Cheating by private telecom companies.

 

“In its report, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) had said that Reliance Communications, Tata Tele, Vodafone, Airtel, Idea and Aircel under-reported their adjusted gross revenue by Rs 46,045.75 crore, leading to a loss of Rs 12,488.93 crore to the exchequer from 2006 to 2010.

E.III(N) earlier and BSNLEU later has criticized the decision of the government changing from the Licence Fee system to the revenue sharing system for the reason that the private companies will show less revenue and cheat the government. Now this has been proved fully right as stated by the CAG. Govt. should inquire and punish the culprits and the cheating companies. CAG had said adjustment of one-time entry fee paid by telecom firms, whose licences were quashed by the Supreme Court, deprived exchequer of Rs. 5,476.3 crore.

78.2% IDA MERGER TO BSNL PENSIONERS- FILE HELD UP WITH SECRETARY, DOT

Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor tried to contact Shri. J. S. Deepak, Secretary, DoT on today, 08-06-2016 to pursue the issue of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners retired before 10-06-2013. But he was not available at his office and his PA has told Com.Namboodiri that Secretary, DoT is out of station and expected back on 13-06-2016. The PA further stated,  when asked, that the modified cabinet note on 78.2% IDA merger is on his table and may be cleared on his arrival.

PSU Banks loss about Rs.18,000 crore mainly due to bad loans.

According to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, the total loss to the PSU Banks is about Rs. 18,000 crores. The loss is mostly due to the NPA or bad loans of hundreds of crores of rupees given to the corporates, including almost all the important business concerns in the country. These loans are given without proper procedure or surety but on the recommendations of the political bigwigs and also in collaboration with the top officers of the banks. The indications are that these loans are taken with the full knowledge that the borrowers can escape without repaying the loan.It is very much necessary that a high level inquiry should be ordered and remedial measures taken to recover these loans.  But since the top politicians, big corporates and top Bank Officers are involved, the chance for any sincere inquiry is doubtful. More over,Shri. Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister’s view that” NPAs were mostly due to business related losses,rather than due to frauds” is a clear indication of his support to the willful defaulters.
The silver lining is that despite these NPAs, the PSU Banks are having an operational profit of Rs. 1.40 lakh crores.

Vienna, Austria: EUROF Meeting-Action of Solidarity with THE FRENCH WORKING CLASS.

 

06 Jun 2016

The European Regional Office of WFTU met in Vienna, Austria on June 2. The meeting discussed the preparation of the 17th World Trade Union Congress, as well as the developments in Europe, with the struggles of the workers in many countries, the refugee issue etc.

The EUROF meeting, which was hosted by the Left Bloc in the Austrian Trade Union Federation, concluded with a protest at the European Union Offices against the TTIP and expressing solidarity with the struggle of the French workers.