In
the face of the unprecedented rise in the inflation of the Indian
Economy during 2006-16, the Central Govt. employees demanded the
Government to affect wage rise, for the emoluments fixed on the basis of
the 6th CPC was incapable of meeting the both ends of an employee.
Though under threat the then Government conceded the demand for setting
up of the 7th CPC, they refused to grant any interim relief or DA
merger, which alone would have mitigated the difficulties of the low
paid employees.
When
the NDA Government came to power, the NJCA & CCGGOO approached them
also with a request that the difficulties of the low paid employees in
Central Government must be appreciated and the demand for Interim Relief
or DA merger be conceded. The NDA Government too did not respond to the
plea made by the NJCA & CCGGOO.
The
7th CPC was to submit its report in August, 2016. However, at the
intervention of the Government, the report was further delayed and it
ultimately reached the Government only in November, 2015.
The
report of the 7th Central pay commission was totally disappointing as
it did not address any of the issues projected before them in a proper
manner and most of the demands were rejected sans reasoning and logic.
The increase they recommended was a paltry 14%, the lowest any Pay
Commission had ever suggested.
Except
setting up an Empowered Committee of Secretaries, the Government did
not do anything so far on the report. It is now more than six months the
report is with the Government. Normally the revised allowances which
form part and parcel of the salary of the employees are granted with
prospective effect i.e. from the date of the issue of the orders. The
delay in taking decision on the 7th pay commission report will rob the
employees of the increased allowances for ever.
The Staff side had
been pursuing to have a meaningful negotiation and settlement of the
issues. Except hearing the leaders of NJCA & CCGGOO, the empowered
Committee did not go further. It acted as if it was powerless and the
final decision will have to be taken by the Government. At the request
of the Cabinet Secretary on 1st March, 2016 the strike action which was
to commence in April, 2016 was deferred.
The
determination of the Minimum wage on the basis of Dr. Aykhroyd formula
enunciated in 1957 to which the Government of India was a party is the
most significant issue. A right settlement thereon will have far
reaching impact in the wage determination of the entire working class in
the country. The confrontation is between the forces who wanted India
to be the destination for cheap labour and others who fight against the
exploitation.
The
new Contributory Pension scheme introduced by the Government in 2004
has made one third of the Civil servants unsure of their entitlement at
the evening of their life even though they were to contribute huge sums
from their wages every month compulsorily. The PFRDA bill became an Act
in the country as the members of Parliament both belonging to NDA and
UPA voted in favour of the loot of the employees. Even the
recommendation made by the Standing Committee of the Parliament to
provide for a minimum guaranteed annuity pension was rejected when the
Bill was passed. The other issue which must have a satisfactory
settlement is about the contributory pension scheme.
The
new pension scheme is a curse on the employees. As far as employees are
concerned, they are worried that in future they may be deprived of
their pension in total. They are also worried that there is no guarantee
of either family pension or gratuity as per 7th pay commission
recommendations. Scrap the PFRDA Act and NPS and grant Pension/family
Pension to all CG employees under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 &
Railways Pension Rules, 1993
The one and only
positive recommendation made by the 7th CPC was to provide some relief
to the in the pension entitlement of the past pensioners. The Department
of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has unfortunately recommended to
the Cabinet Secretary that, even that recommendation must be rejected on
the specious plea that the requisite relevant records might not be
available.
The
central government employees are very much annoyed and anxious with the
7th pay commission recommendations. As there had been no fruitful
negotiations or discussions and having realized that the Government has
no intention to settle the Charter of demands, the NJCA & CCGGOO
have served strike notices. The indefinite strike will commence on 11th
July, 2016, if no satisfactory settlement is brought about on the
charter of demands. Prime Minister should intervene immediately for
improvement of VII CPC recommendations and revision of Central Govt.
employees wages.
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