Monthly Archives: September 2016

ESIC increases the eligibility wage limit to Rs. 21,000 from Rs. 15,000.

07 Wednesday Sep 2016

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After the government has issued orders on the new payscales of the central government employees with the minimum scale starting from Rs. 18,000, the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)  has raised the maximum eligibility  pay for contribution to it from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 21,000. Those who are already subscribers to the ESIC will be allowed to continue, even if the wage increases to more than Rs. 21,000. 

This small increase in the maximum is completely inadequate. If it is not further increased, many employees will be out of its scheme and will be denied the health insurance scheme benefits.

Meeting with GM (Establishment) BSNL.

06 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President and Animesh Mitra, Secretary General BSNLCCWF met Smt. Madhu Arora, GM(Estt.) and discussed about the details of a scheme for regularisation of the left-out casual labours. GM(Estt.) wanted our suggestions to be given in writing. With regard to the regularisation of Com. Sebastian, TSM, Kerala on the basis of the decision of the Supreme court, GM said that the same has been approved and will be sent to CGM Kerala for necessary action. The unhappiness of the Federation in the delay of finalising the gratuity for the workers was brought to the notice of the GM with the demand that immediate action be taken to pay gratuity in  the cases of all those casual/contract workers retired and died since 2000.

Meeting With Director (HR) BSNL on casual contract labour issues

06 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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A detailed discussion took place on 06-09-2016 between the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation represented by its President Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri and Secretary General Com. Animesh Mitra and Smt. Sujata Ray, Director (HR) on a scheme to be prepared for the regularisation of left-out casual labour numbering around 3,000. The Federation leaders explained the entire matters connected with the regularisation issue, including the action taken by Postal, other government departments as also  by LIC. Copies of the relevant orders were supplied to Director(HR). It was assured that the entire matters will be looked in to afresh.

The leaders requested that immediate funds may be made available to Kerala Circle for payment of the arrears of increased wages to the contract workers in Kerala.

Meeting with CMD BSNL on Casual- Contract issues

06 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, General

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Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President and Com. Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNLCCWF met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL on 06-09-2016 and discussed about the regularisation of  casual labour, implementation of minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc.as also implementation of gratuity. The union leaders also requested that necessary funds be allotted to Kerala Circle for making payment of arrears of the wages as per the recent agreement on the wages of contract labour. CMD agreed to look in to all the matters urgently.

Improvement of the services also was discussed. The necessity of immediate countering steps against the aggressive entry of Reliance Jio was also discussed. Better service and expansion is required.

Meeting with Additional Chief Labour Commissioner (Central)

06 Tuesday Sep 2016

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Com. V.A.N.Nambodiri President and Com. Animesh Mitra, Secretary General BSNLCCWF to day, 6th September 2016, met Shri P.K.Saxena, Additional Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi at Shram Shakti Bhawan and discussed about the major issues of the casual and contract workers, like Regularisation of Casual Labour, Implementation of Minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc., Gratuity to the casual contract workers, Retrenchment of contract labour etc. A detailed Memorandum on these issues was presented to the Additional. CLC.

The Addl. CLC told that directions will be given to the Dy. Chief Labour Commissioners(Central)  in the states to take necessary steps to get the government orders implemented when any such complaints are received. He also stated that  the information of those workers who got retired/died without getting gratuity be intimated to the CLC so that immediate action can be taken to get the gratuity paid urgently. He also wanted the details of the circles in detail where minimum wage, EPF, ESI are not implemented. The union leaders agreed to give the same and requested for early action.

Teachers’ Day – Pranab Mukherjee, President, teaches students.

06 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in General

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5th September is the National Teachers Day. It is being observed since 1962 on the birth anniversary of former President Dr. S.Radhakrishnan, who himself was a well known educationalist and teacher.

It was most appropriate that the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee interacted with students on that day and took a class. This gives more respectability to the Day. Teachers have got much influence on the children and correct education and mentoring will make a better society.

My experience as a teacher for more than two years before joining the Postal and Telecom Department was very pleasant and educative.

While observing the Teachers’ Day, let us not forget that more than 30% people in the country are still illiterate. Kerala and Tripura, both ruled by the Left Party Governments, are the only states with 100% literacy. Even almost seven decades  after Independence, a good portion of the people are in dark without education. The government, the politicians, educationalists – all have to tackle the problem and ensure full literacy in the country, for which top priority is to be given. Education is power and the poor have to be armed with this power.

 

BSNL provides 23 lakh connections in August 2016

05 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in BSNL, BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLEU

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Congratulations to all employees and management of BSNL. In August 2016, BSNL has provided a total connection of 23,07,301 which is about 103% of the target fixed for the month. It is only with the wholehearted support of the workers and the management that this achievement could be made. It is to be noted that for the last few months, BSNL has been providing connections above 20 laklhs. This we have to continue. Further better service is also to be provided so that the customers will be happy with BSNL and its workers.

 

 

Government’s proposal for Minimum Wage notified

05 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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Government of India has notified in Gazette of India dated 1st September 2016 its proposals for fixing the minimum wages of the contract labours. The wages for unskilled,semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled for A class, B Class, C class cities are notified and asked for any suggestions to be submitted within 2 months before finalisation.

According to the notification an unskilled worker will get a daily wage of Rs. 350 in C Class cities as on 01-01-2016.  This will come to Rs. 9100  in a month for an unskilled worker in a C class city. Variable DA will be added for the VDA increasing after 01-01-2016 which comes to Rs. 9227 as on 1st September 2016.

Our demand is for Rs.18,000 as minimum wage which is one of the demands raised in the 2nd September 2016 strike in which the casual contract workers of BSNL also participated.

 

Meeting of PLI Committee today

05 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLEU, General

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The meeting of the PLI Committee of BSNL is meeting today. Due to huge loss, the BSNL employees were not paid Bonus for the last few years.

Now that BSNL has improved and has posted operational profit both in 2014-15 and 2015-16, it is a must that PLI (Bonus) should be paid to its employees. Of course, PLI is not based on profit, but on productivity. Productivity has also increased very much. The Management offered Rs. 1,100 in the last meeting of the Committee, which the unions did not accept. Since the Central Government has already fixed the minimum bonus as Rs. 7,000, the BSNL employees also should be paid at least Rs. 7,000 as PLI (Bonus). It is hoped that the Staff Side participating in the deliberations will be able to clinch the issue with the Minimum Bonus of Rs.7,000. The BSNL Management should agree to the fully justified demand of the Staff Side.

Zero Mile at Nagpur to be made heritage site.

05 Monday Sep 2016

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255px-Zero_mile_nagpur

Whenever I  visit Nagpur and stay at the BSNL IQ, I used to go for morning walk on the side of the nearby roads and most of the times, passed through the ‘Zero Mile’ stone erected there. Comrades told me that the milestone ‘Zero Mile’ is erected,because it is the centre of India. I know that some other cities also claimed to be as the centre of the country.

In the ‘Business Line’ of today, 5th September 2016, there is a small report on the Nagpur Zero Mile. Nagpur was taken as the centre of the country and ‘Zero Mile’ marked with a mile stone by the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India after it calculated the various distances from the country. This was at the time of the East India Company and the British Government. The Survey began in 1802 and was completed in 1871, long seven years. It was at this time, the measurement of the peaks of Himalaya like Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga was also taken.

It is reported that the Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation is proposing to construct a metro Station at the place and the whole area will be made a heritage sight focusing the ‘zero mile’. It is appreciable.

In this connection it is to be noted that the City of Greenwich, London which is treated as situated at the Prime Meridian, a lot of scientific institutions like the Royal Observatory are situated and is a big tourist spot.