Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by Parliament

Ministry of Labour & Employment

Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by Parliament

Posted On: 22 MAR 2018 3:36PM by PIB Delhi

The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed by parliament today.The bill ensures harmony amongst employees in the private sector and Public Sector Undertakings/Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules. These employees will be entitled to receive higher amount of gratuity at par with their counterparts in Government sector. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha today and the Lok Sabha on 15th March, 2018.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons. The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workman after retirement, whether retirement is a result of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and establishments.

The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs. 10 Lakh. 

The provisions for Central Government employees under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar. Before implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 was Rs. 10 Lakh. However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, in case of Government servants, the ceiling has been raised to Rs. 20 Lakhs.

Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of  employees engaged in private sector, this Government decided that the entitlement of gratuity should also be revised in respect of employees who are covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Accordingly, the Government initiated the process for amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 to increase the maximum limit of gratuity to such amount as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.

In addition, the Bill also envisages to amend the provisions relating to calculation of continuous service for the purpose of gratuity in case of female employees who are on maternity leave from 'twelve weeks' to such period as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.

After enactment of the Act, the power to notify the ceiling of the amount of  gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 shall stand delegated to the Central Government so that the limit can be revised from time to time keeping in view the increase in wage and inflation and future pay commissions.

Rates of small savings schemes

Ministry of Finance

Rates of small savings schemes

Posted On: 22 MAR 2018 4:53PM by PIB Delhi

The revised Rates of Interest on various Small Savings Schemes Including Saving Deposits, Public Provident Fund, Kisan Vikas Patra and Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts Scheme for the 4th Quarter of financial year 2017-18 is as below:

Instrument	Rate of interest w.e.f. 01.01.2018 to 31.03.2018
Savings Deposit	4.0
1 Year Time Deposit	6.6
2 Year Time Deposit	6.7
3 Year Time Deposit	6.9
5 Year Time Deposit	7.4
5 Year Recurring Deposit	6.9
5 Year Senior Citizen Savings Scheme	8.3
5 Year Monthly Income Account	7.3
5 Year National Savings Certificate	7.6
Public Provident Fund Scheme	7.6
Kisan Vikas Patra	7.3 (will mature in 118 months)
Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme	8.1

This was stated by Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha. 

Relaxation of Norms for NPS

Ministry of Finance

Relaxation of Norms for NPS

Posted On: 23 MAR 2018 5:42PM by PIB Delhi

The Government of India has recently made three changes in the National Pension Scheme (NPS) including withdrawal norms. The details are as under:

• Partial withdrawal during the service: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), with an objective to meet the subscriber’s sudden financial requirement enrolled under NPS, has liberalized norms for partial withdrawals which also include reduction of requirement of minimum years of being enrolled under NPS from 10 years to 3 years from the date of joining. Suitable amendments were made through “Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2017 and the same has been notified on 10.08.2017.

• Increase in the joining age under NPS: With an objective to allow individuals (under NPS-All Citizen Model and Corporate Sector Model) who are in the age bracket between 60 years and 65 years to join NPS system. Suitable amendments were made through “Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2017 and the same has been notified on 06.10.2017.

• Exit in case of disability and incapacitation of the subscriber: With an objective of facilitating easy exit & withdrawal in case of disability and incapacitation of the subscriber covered under NPS, PFRDA has made suitable amendments through “Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2018 and the same has been notified on 02.02.2018.

This was stated by Shri Ship Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Setting up of CPC for Implementation of Core Banking Projects

Circle Union writes to the Chief PMG to cancel the order for opening of Post Offices on 29th and 30th March, 2018 .

 URGENT

No. P3NFPE-Odisha/ 05 - 03/2018

Dated at Bhubaneswar the 26^th March, 2018

To

Dr. S K Kamila, IPoS

Chief Postmaster General

Odisha Circle, Bhubaneswar – 751 001

Sub:-   Request to cancel the order for opening of Post Offices on 29^th and 30^th March, 2018 .

Respected Sir,

                        Inviting a kind reference to the Circle Office letter No.LI/Misc-Corr/2013-14, dated 26.03.2018 with direction to open PLI CPCs on 29^th and 30^th March, 2018, this is to intimate that while normal Sundays are being snatched away on the plea of several melas, meetings, workshops etc. in complete violation of Directorate’s guidelines issued vide its letter No. 16/56/2011-SR dated 8.7.2011 and reiterated vide letter No 08/15/2011-SR dated 09.01.2012, now holidays meant for the employees to celebrate different special occasions are also in jeopardy.  

                        Of late, we came to know that some Divisions like Cuttack South, Cuttack City and Dhenkanal Division had ordered the employees to work on 25.03.2018 (Sunday), i.e. Ram Navami, the most important festival of Hindu community. Now, the above order of the Circle Office is intended to  play with the sentiments of Jain and Christian community compelling the employees to work on Mahavir Jayanti (29.03.2018) and Good Friday (30.03.2018).

                        We may not commit a mistake in making you understand that India is a secular country giving equal importance and freedom to all community to follow and celebrate respective religion with constitutional rights. But unfortunately the above order of the Circle Office stands in the way of the constitutional rights of the citizens.

                        While the day to day CBS and CSI problems have seriously affected the normal lives of the employees, the above arbitrary and unethical  order has added salt to the injury.

                        Therefore, this Circle Union sincerely requests you to immediately cancel the above order and allow the employees at least to celebrate the festivals with their family and friends.

Expecting your immediate necessary action and kind response.

             With regards.

Yours faithfully,

 (BRUHASPATI   SAMAL)

Circle Secretary

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3216 : Garmin Dak Sevaks

LTC FACILITY TO VISIT SAARC COUNTRIES

OPENING OF OFFICE ON HOLIDAYS

GRANT OF DEARNESS RELIEF TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS/FAMILY PENSIONERS - REVISED RATE EFFECTIVE FROM 01.01.2018

Click the link below to view:

http://document.ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/PPWG22032018.pdf

Clarification regarding verification of membership for recognition of Service Associations representing Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) under Extra Departmental Agents (Recognition of Associations) Rules, 1995.

Confederation writes to Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on abolition of Posts lying vacant for more than five year

Ref: Confdn/Genl/2016-19                                                            Dated – 20.03.2018

To

Shri Narendra Modi Ji

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India

South Block,

New Delhi – 110001

Sir,

Sub: -  Abolition of Posts lying vacant for more than five years – reg.

Ref: -   (1)        Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure OM No. 7 (1)/E. Cord-1/2017 dated 16^th January 2018.

            (2)        Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs OM No. 19011/01/2015-Fin.II (Pt.) dated 19^th January 2018.

This representation is submitted with the most fervent hope that the Hon’ble Prime Minister will be condescend to intercede on behalf of the 32 lakhs of Central Govt. Employees who are very much aggrieved by the above mentioned orders of the Finance Ministry and Home Ministry.

Sir, It is with much shock and dismay the Central Govt. Employees came to know about the above mentioned orders of the Finance Ministry, Department of Expenditure to abolish all posts lying vacant for more than five years in all departments of Govt. of India. In this regard we would like to submit the following facts for your benign consideration and favourable orders.

(i)        Post are lying vacant for more than five years, not because that there is no work load justified for retention of such posts. It is because of the dismal failure of the authorities to take timely and prompt action to complete the recruitment process to fill up those posts in a time bound manner. Due to this inordinate delay in filling up of those vacant posts, the remaining staff are compelled to do the work of those posts also. The abnormal delay in completing the recruitment process by staff Selection Commission is also a main reason for posts remaining unfilled for years together. In some cases, outsourced contract and casual employees are working for years  together against those vacant posts. Thus it can be seen that a blanket order to abolish all posts lying vacant for more than five years is unrealistic and not rational.

(ii)      Posts are created after assessing the workload based on time-tested parameters and time tests. Abolishing such posts, in a most mechanical manner, even without re-assessing whether present workload justified retention of such posts by carrying out establishment review, will lead to imposing of heavy workload on the existing staff on a permanent measure which may create a chaotic situation in Govt. offices as the efficiency of offices may be adversely affected due to unbearable workload.

(iii)    It may be pointed out that it is during the last NDA Govt’s time in May 2001 executive orders were issued to abolish 2/3^rd (two-third) of all direct recruitment vacancies based on annual Direct Recruitment Plan in all departments without assessing whether the posts are justified or not. Lakhs of posts are abolished during the period from 2001 to 2008. Finally Sixth Central pay Commissions severely criticized the Govt’s policy of abolishing direct recruitment vacancies and opined that this has led to an “ageing bureaucracy” and strongly recommended to withdraw the abolition orders. Accordingly Govt. has withdrawn that orders and DOP&T has issued orders for filling up of all vacant posts.

(iv)     It is most unfortunate that again the present NDA Govt. has issued another orders in 2018 to abolish all posts lying vacant for more than five years without giving any consideration to the facts as to what is the reason for posts remaining vacant for such a long period, whether there is justification for retention of those posts as per establishment review etc.

In view of the above facts, I, on behalf of the Central Govt. employees, most humbly request the Hon’ble Prime Minister to intervene immediately so that the orders issued by Finance Ministry will be reviewed in an objective, dispassionate and rational manner and be either withdrawn or kept in abeyance.

Yours faithfully,

(M. Krishnan)

General Secretary

& Member, Standing Committee

National Council, JCM

Mob: 09447068125

Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Click here to view - Letter to Shri Arun Jaitley, Hon'ble Finance Minister

Click here to view - Letter to Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble Home Minister 

NATIONAL CONVENTION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ORGANIZED BY CONFEDERATION OF C.G.E & W

National Federation of Postal Employees

1^st Floor North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110 001

Phone: 011.23092771                                                      e-mail: nfpehq@gmail.com

       Mob: 9868819295/9810853981                      website: http://www.nfpe.blogspot.com

         No.PF-01(e)/2018                                                                              Dated: 21^st March, 2018

CIRCULAR

To

            All General Secretaries / NFPE Office Bearers     

           All Circle Secretaries of NFPE Unions

NATIONAL CONVENTION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES           ORGANIZED  BY CONFEDERATION OF C.G.E & W.

Dear Comrades,

            Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers has decided to organize a National convention of Central Government employees on 10^th June 2018 at Sundaraiyya Vignana kendram, Bagalingampally, Hyderabad from 10 am to 5 pm with the object to declare the campaign programme and the strike to settle 10 Points Charter of demands.

            The confederation has allotted quota to NFPE as 150 delegates to participate in the said convention. Therefore the quota is allotted to all affiliates as mentioned below:

            PIII - 30, PIV – 30, RIII - 20, RIV - 20, Admn - 15, Postal Acctts - 15,

           SBCO – 15, GDS- 10, Casual labourers - 5.

            All affiliated unions are requested to allot quota accordingly to all circles.

            All delegates may be instructed to book their up and down travel tickets immediately as train tickets reservation commences four months before. Food and Accommodation to delegates will be arranged by the C-O-C Andhra & Telangana, Hyderabad. Delegate fee is fixed as Rs.500/- (Rs. Five hundred only) per head. For other details C-O-Cs and affiliates are requested to contact the following.

      1.      Com. Azeez, GS, C-O-C                                       -           09848082697

      2.      Com. V. Nageswara Rao, Presidnet, COC         -           09912348233

      3.      Com. Usha Boneppalli, ITEF                              -           08985971009

      4.      Com. Balakrishna, ITEF                                      -           08985970999 

            As Hyderabad is a Famous tourist centre, those delegates who want to go for sightseeing should arrange it on 9^th or 11^th June. Everybody should attend the convention on 10.06.2018 from 10 AM to 5 PM without fail.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

      1.   Settle 7^th CPC related issues including increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula, HRA arrears, MACP Bench Mark, Option-I for pensioners etc.

     2.    Withdraw contributory Pension Scheme (NPS). Ensure defined pension under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 to all employees appointed on or after 01.01.2004.

      3.    Fill up all vacant posts. Withdraw the orders to abolish all vacant posts lying vacant for five years. Create justified posts for excess work. Evolve proper mechanism for Regional recruitment. Stop engagement of retired persons.

      4.   (a) Regularise Gramin Dak Sevaks and grant Civil Servant status. Implement positive recommendations of Kamalesh Chandra Committee report.

(b) Regularise all casual and contract workers. Evolve a new scheme for regularization of Casual and Contract Workers.

     5.   Ensure equal pay for equal work as per Supreme Court judgment and grant parity in wages and pay scales.

     6.   Stop closure of Govt. establishments. Withdraw closure orders of Govt. of India Presses. Stop outsourcing and privatization of Government functions.

     7.   Avoid abnormal delay in extending benefits of 7^th CPC to Autonomous body employees and pensioners.

      8.   Remove 5% condition imposed on compassionate appointments. Grant appointment in all deserving cases.

      9.   Grant five time-bound promotions to all employees on completion of 8, 7, 6, 5 & 4 years of service.

   10. (a) stop attack on Trade Union rights. Avoid delay in conducting verification of Membership under CCS (RSA) Rules 1993. Declare results and grant recognition in a time-bound manner. Ensure prompt functioning of various negotiating forums under JCM scheme at all levels.

      (b) Withdraw the draconian FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 which is misused as a short-cut to punish and victimize employees.

                                                                                                  Yours Comradely,

                                                                                                  R.N. Parashar

                                                                                                Secretary General

ENHANCEMENT OF RATES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF FIRE/FLOODS AND NATURAL CALAMITIES

IDENTIFICATION OF SENSITIVE AND NON-SENSITIVE POSTS IN DEPARTMENT OF POSTS