India Inc against merger of Pay and Allowances for EPF Contribution

10 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, Neo-liberal policy, TU News - India

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The attitude of  India Inc is made clear in the editorial of the “Economic Times” dated 10th April. It has strongly supported the decision of the Central government is rejecting the proposal of the EPF Organisation to add the DA and other allowances for calculating the contribution to the EPF both by the employee and the employer.

The proposal of the EPFO will benefit  the employee by increase  in his EPF and also pension. What has irked  India Inc is that they will have to pay increased  contribution by the employers. In fact, the employers have converted a good part of the salary  in to allowances to deny contribution to the EPF.

We strongly condemn the decision of the government in rejecting the recommendation of the EPFO, which is only to favour the corporates etc. We demand the government to approve the decision of the EPFO to include the allowances also in calculating the contribution to the EPF.

The III stage of General Elections today.

10 Thursday Apr 2014

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The Third stage of general elections have started today. Elections will take place for 91 constituencies today, including in Kerala (20), Haryana (10), Odisha (10), Maharashtra (10), Delhi (7), MP (9), UP(10), Bihar (6), Jharkhand(4), J and K(1), Lakshadweep (1), Chhattisgarh (1),  and A and N Islands (1).

The Polling % so far indicates that the voters are coming forward more and more. This indicates combined efforts of the political parties, the Election Commission and also the increased consciousness of the people themselves.

This is the biggest elections and not only India, but the entire world is watching this process.

 

 

 

CITU WRITES TO MINISTER ON EPF ISSUE

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

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CITU Writes to Minister of EPF Issue
07.04.2014

Shri Oscar Fernandes,
Minister for Labour and Employment,
Govt. of India, New Delhi

Dear Shri Oscar Fernandes ji,

It is reported in the print media that Govt. of India has directed EPFO, to amend the circular of Central Provident Fund Commissioner, dated 30th November 2012 which relates to, inter alia, definition of wages for the purpose of PF contribution. I register my strongest protest over this decision of Govt. of India, which would reduce the PF related obligation of the employers at the huge cost of the workers- who are EPF subscribers.

After the circular was issued by the then CPFC Shri R.C. Mishra, it was put in abeyance. A tripartite working group was formed to “examine various aspects of the circular” which had CBT members representing employers and workers and also higher officials of EPFO. I was also a member of the working group. The unanimous decisions of the working group upholding the content of the EPFO Circular was finalized on 29th March 2013 and sent to Govt. Now after passage of more than one year the unanimous recommendation of the Working Group is nullified and the most important portion of this circular is being now done away with by the Govt to benefit the employers class at the cost of workers.

The most important part of the circular was on definition of wages. It has been our experience that wages are split in several heads to keep basic pay low to evade PF contributions, by the employers. The circular had clearly noted “the subterfuge of splitting wages to exclude PF liabilities”. To my knowledge, after the then CPFC Shri R.C. Mishra, two successor CPFCs had also endorsed the circular as was unanimously recommended by the working group.

I would also like to point out that this is happening in the background of two other important decisions – enhancing the minimum pension to Rs.1000 and increasing the wage ceiling for eligibility for PF enrolment to Rs.15,000 from Rs.6500 lying unimplemented, again to favour the same employers’ class at the cost of workers.

These decisions were taken by Central Board of Trustees under your Chairmanship only after the concurrence of the Finance Ministry. You and your colleagues had claimed that the Govt. wants to accept the long pending demands of workers. It was also reported widely that cabinet had approved these proposals.

Taken together, all these issues connected with the EPFO are being acted upon in such a way that legitimate dues to the workers are being denied while the employers being unduely favoured.

I urge upon you that the Circular of EPFO as unanimously upheld by the Working Group of CBT be implemented forthwith. I also demand that the decisions on enhancement of Minimum Pension under EPS, 1995 and enhancement of wage-ceiling be implemented with effect from 01-04-2014 as already announced and propagated by the Govt of India.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

(A.K. Padmanabhan)
Member, CBT, EPFO,
President, CITU

Decisions of Forum Meeting on 09-04-2014

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

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FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
D-7, TELEGRAPH PLACE, GOLE MARKET, NEW DELHI – 110001
——————————————————————————————————————-
Forum/Meeting 09-04-2014

Decisions of the meeting of the Forum held on 9th April 2014
A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations was held on 9th April 2014 at the National Council Room, Eastern Court, New Delhi. Com. C.Singh, President, Forum, presided.
Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, welcomed all the participants and briefed the house about the developments after the meetings held on 10th March and 14th March 2014. He reported about the meetings with the Member (Finance), Member (Services), Additional Secretary, DOT and the officers of the department of Expenditure in connection with the issues of 78.2% IDA for Pensioners, Merger of BSNL and MTNL, Formation of Tower / Land Asset company etc. as also early payment of USOF allocation of Rs. 1,500 crore to BSNL etc.
All the items in the agenda was discussed by the comrades in detail and the following decisions were taken:
1. The Forum should insist the BSNL Management for allocating 30% Superannuation benefit to the BSNL appointed employees as per the DPE guidelines in the matter.
2. Regarding the EPF issue for the BSNL appointed employees, further discussion is necessary. In the meanwhile some experts on the subject can be contacted for getting guidance in the matter.
3. Regarding the 78.2% IDA fixation for the pensioners, Forum should take the matter with DOT for changing the present Presidential Orders, so that the pensioners who retired before June 2013 will get the benefit.
4. On all the issues already taken up by the Forum, agitational programmes are to be organised after the general elections.
5. In the meantime, all the issues should be pursued with DOT, Dept. of Expenditure etc. for early settlement.
6. The next meeting of Forum will be held on 8th May 2014.

V.A.N.Namboodiri
Convener, Forum

Settle Pensioners’ issues urgently – Dept.of Pension

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

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The Department of Pension and Pension Grievances has instructed that all the pension cases should be settled without delay. A report in the press, in this connection, is reproduced below:

“Concerned over undue delay in addressing grievances of pensioners, government has directed all ministries to resolve the issues within two months of receiving the complaints.

A pensioners’ portal–www.Pgportal.Gov.In–is being run by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare for receiving complaints and there is also a Centralised Pension Grievances Redress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS).

It has been found by the department that grievances are lying pending for unduly long periods and the pensioners concerned were suffering.

“Minimum courtesy of acknowledging a receipt of the complaint may be done within a period of three days of the receipt of the grievances in case of receipt of dak physically and same day in case if it is an online application,” the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DPPW) said.

The pensioners can also write their grievances to nodal officers of respective ministries and to the DPPW.

The grievances may be redressed within a maximum period of two months of its receipt. “Cases where it is not possible to give an immediate reply, an interim reply should be given to the applicant,” it said in a recent order.
The Department of Pension and Pension Grievances has instructed that the pension cases should be settled urgently. A report in the press, in this connection, is given below:

Any request made by a pensioner which does not fall under the ambit of pension policy would be a demand and may be tackled accordingly as they do not form part of the approved policy of the government, the order said.

“Pending vigilance or court cases cannot be included in grievances as they are dependent on the finalisation of the cases. Hence, the pensioner may be informed of the same and these grievances tackled accordingly,” the department said in the order issued to all central government ministries.

The pending grievances are being constantly reviewed by the department to ensure its redressal within a time frame.

There are about 30 lakh central government pensioners.”

100 million Indians use Facebook; Only next to US

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

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It is reported that number of Indian Facebookers have reached 10 million ( 10 crores). It is only second to US. While 58% of US people use Facebook, in India it is 8.1%.
In 2010, the Facebook users in India was 8 million which has reached to 100 million in 2014.

Charter of Demands by Non-Executive unions submitted to CMD BSNL

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

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The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Executive Unions/Associations submitted the Charter of Demands to Shri R.K.Upadhyay, CMD BSNL, demanding settlement of the same early. There are 30 important demands placed in the Charter.
The General secretaries of all the signatory unions including Com. C.Singh GS NFTE (President), Com. P.Abhimanyu (Convener) along with Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU met the CMD BSNL and submitted the Charter and demanded early settlement.

Rocketing assets of UPA Ministers

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

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It is no surprise or wonder. The report in the Economic Times dated 09-04-2014 has given a graphic account of the shooting up assets of the UPA Ministers at the Centre during the period from 2009 to 2014. At the top stands Kamal Nath with 1471% in increase in his assets and next is Praful Patel with 156%. Communications Minister Kapil Sibal is third with 358%. Shashi Taroor, Jyotiraditya Scindia etc. are next.
Fully tainted by large scale corruption, most of the Ministers in the UPA government have been exposed. It is a shame that the corrupt ministers are still roaming around seeking vote from the public. They should be taken to task for cheating the government and the Nation.

Meeting of Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations on 9th April 2014

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

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A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations will be held at the National Council Office in the II Floor of the Eastern Court New Delhi at 04.00 PM on 9th April 2014.
The Revival of BSNL and other connected matters will be discussed.

EMPLOYEES PENSION SCHEME – NON-CONTRIBUTION REQUIRED AFTER 58 YEARS

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

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EPFO (Employees Provident Fund Organisation)has clarified that according to the Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995, the employees are eligible for pension after attaining age of 58 years. They need not pay the contribution after 58 years. The EPFO has given suitable directions to all its field offices. The clarifications are issued after it was noticed that the contributions were being /collected even after attaining 58 years.