TRAI chief tells telecom companies not to insult subscribers.

       R.S.Sharma, chairman of the TRAI, has told the telecom  companies not to insult subscribers. On the issue of  paying compensation for call-drops, some of the telecom                       companies have told that subscribers would deliberately drop calls, to claim compensation. “Are your telling me that 50 crore people in this country will run to get   Rs.3 through a call drop every day?, asked  the TRAI Chairman.

                      R.S. Sharma, Chairman, TRAI, has refuted the claim of the    telecom companies that they would face Rs.54, 000 cror annually by way of compensation to call-drops. According           to the TRAI, the telecom companies may lose Rs.800 crore   annually on this count. The TRAI has stated that its tests  conducted in June and September showed no improvement i   the call-drop situation. TRAI would make another set of  tests in December and the ‘call-drop’ compensation to  consumers will be implemented from 1st January 2016.

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WFTU high-level delegation is these days in S. Africa to participate in the 12th National Congress of the COSATU.  The delegation is led by WFTU General Secretary, George Mavrikos and is composed by Swadesh Dev Roye, Deputy General Secretary, Divanilton Pereira, Director of International Relations of CTB Brazil and WFTU Coordinator for South Cone, George Bazionis, WFTU Communication Officer and Alexandra Lymperi, Media and press department of WFTU.

In the framework of the Congress the WFTU delegation hold a meeting with the WFTU affiliated organizations’ leadership and the COSATU President, Sdumo Dlamini.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

39-A. North Block. New Delhi-110001

November 21. 2015

D.O.No.1-4/2012-EIII(A)

Dear Sir.

The Report of the 7th Central Pay Commission was submitted to the Governmenton 19.11.2015. A COPY of the Report is placed on the website of Ministry of Finance (www.finmin.nic.in)

2. The process to examine the recommendations of the Commission has to commence immediately. An Empowered Committee of Secretaries chaired by cabinet Secretary is being constituted to consider the recommendations in its entirety and after considering the views of all the Departments as well as the Staff Associations and JCM. An implementation Cell is also being created In this Ministry to process the recommendations based on the views of the Ministries/Departments , Staff Associations and JCM for submitting the matter for consideration of the empowered Committee of Secretaries and thereafter for approval of the Cabinet based on the conclusions arrived at by the Empowered Committee of Secretaries.

3. Thus, the process to consider the, recommendations before it reaches a final shape for approval of the Cabinet requires consultation amongst all the Ministries/Departments who may formulate their opinion based on the views of Staff Associations under their administrative control.

4. Accordingly. it is requested that the following action may be taken on an urgent basis in your Department:

(i) A Nodal Officer at the level of a Joint Secretary may be nominated immediately. Whom the implementation Cell in this Ministry would be interacting with during the course of processing of the recommendations

(ii) The recommendations of the Commission may be examined in regard to issues concerning your Department and the views thereon may be furnished to this Ministry within three weeks.

(iii)The recommendations of the Commission may be examined in regard Posts/Cadre/service/ organization under your Department and the views thereon may be furnished to this Ministry within three weeks.

(iv) While formulating the views of your Department, the comments, if any of any of the recognized Staff Associations under the administrative control of your Department. may also be obtainedand taken into account.

(v) In case your Department has any view on any of the recommendations contained in the Report, even though it may not directly pertain to your Department, may also be furnished under a separate category within three weeks.

(VI) In case you have any other suggestion to make in this regard, the same will b appreciated.

I request you, accordingly to kindly ensure that the action on the above points is given utmost priority and the same is completed within the stipulated timeline of three weeks.

With warm règards.

Yours sincerely. (Annie G Mathew

The much-awaited 7th Pay Commission report was submitted to the government last Thursday. The 900-page long report was perused swiftly within a day or two and criticisms have already started coming. The very next day of submitting the report, M. Krishnan, the Confederation Secretary, gave a scathing criticism. “No other Pay Commission had submitted such a worst report,” he said. At the very beginning of the press release, he had mentioned that the backward mindset of the recommendations of the Pay Commission have been a huge disappointment for the Central Government employees. Contrary to all the wild speculations, a raise of only 14.29 percent was finally given to the Central Government employees. This increment is akin to two installments of the Dearness Allowance. He has strongly stated that more than 50 lakh Central Government employees and members of the armed forces have been cheated. In order to clarify the doubts that arise about the 7th Pay Commission report, one has to refer to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations. But, it also highlights the stark difference in the quality of both the reports. While the 6th Pay Commission report had clearly stated its recommendations and justifications with explanations and examples, the 7th Pay Commission report is a lifeless play of words. The 6th Pay Commission recommended 10 percent, 20 percent, and 30 percent House Rent Allowance for ten years starting from 01.01.2006. The intention behind reducing it to 24 percent, 16 percent and eight percent was not explained. Despite being very well aware of the fact that the recommendations will be in effect until 2026, the fact that the Pay Commission had tried to reduce the allocation has left the Central Government employees greatly disappointed. MACP/ Promotions: Among the biggest disappointments of the 7th Pay Commission report is the fact that promotions, which are given once every ten years, so not earn any substantial benefits for the employees. They stand to gain only 3 percent hike. Another painful observation is the fact that the gap between Grade Pay 2800 and 4200 has been completely reduced. The next big disappointment is the method of calculating the dearness allowance. This was one of the much-anticipated parts of the report. There is no clear explanation as to the reason why changes had to be made in the CPI IW BY 2001=100 method, or the 115.76 Factor. On top of it all, the commission has introduced a new “Pay Matrix.” Our expectations of a detailed explanation about it were never fulfilled. 3 percent of the amount has been rounded off and given for each CELL. In short, the 7th Pay Commission report is on the receiving end of lot of criticism. Central Government employees are now hoping that the Centre would intervene and do something positive for them More flaws than plus points in 7th Pay Commission Recommendations Understanding the important Recommendations of 7th Pay Commission The much-awaited 7th Pay Commission report was submitted to the government last Thursday. The 900-page long report was perused swiftly within a day or two and criticisms have already started coming. The very next day of submitting the report, M. Krishnan, the Confederation Secretary, gave a scathing criticism. “No other Pay Commission had submitted such a worst report,” he said. At the very beginning of the press release, he had mentioned that the backward mindset of the recommendations of the Pay Commission have been a huge disappointment for the Central Government employees. Contrary to all the wild speculations, a raise of only 14.29 percent was finally given to the Central Government employees. This increment is akin to two installments of the Dearness Allowance. He has strongly stated that more than 50 lakh Central Government employees and members of the armed forces have been cheated. In order to clarify the doubts that arise about the 7th Pay Commission report, one has to refer to the 6th Pay Commission recommendations. But, it also highlights the stark difference in the quality of both the reports. While the 6th Pay Commission report had clearly stated its recommendations and justifications with explanations and examples, the 7th Pay Commission report is a lifeless play of words. The 6th Pay Commission recommended 10 percent, 20 percent, and 30 percent House Rent Allowance for ten years starting from 01.01.2006. The intention behind reducing it to 24 percent, 16 percent and eight percent was not explained. Despite being very well aware of the fact that the recommendations will be in effect until 2026, the fact that the Pay Commission had tried to reduce the allocation has left the Central Government employees greatly disappointed. MACP/ Promotions: Among the biggest disappointments of the 7th Pay Commission report is the fact that promotions, which are given once every ten years, so not earn any substantial benefits for the employees. They stand to gain only 3 percent hike. Another painful observation is the fact that the gap between Grade Pay 2800 and 4200 has been completely reduced. The next big disappointment is the method of calculating the dearness allowance. This was one of the much-anticipated parts of the report. There is no clear explanation as to the reason why changes had to be made in the CPI IW BY 2001=100 method, or the 115.76 Factor. On top of it all, the commission has introduced a new “Pay Matrix.” Our expectations of a detailed explanation about it were never fulfilled. 3 percent of the amount has been rounded off and given for each CELL. In short, the 7th Pay Commission report is on the receiving end of lot of criticism. Central Government employees are now hoping that the Centre would intervene and do something positive for them