Wednesday 31 August 2016

Venue for the GDS to PA - Paper II exam (Type and Data entry)

Date : 1.9.2016

Venue for the GDS to PA - Paper II exam (Type and Data entry)

For Kurnool Region, Type and Data Entry test for the GDS who qualified in the GDS to PA exam held on 31.07.2016 will be held at WCTC, Kurnool Head Post Office on 04.09.2016 from 1000 AM onwards.

Extension of date for payment of fee for the Postman DR exam - 2016

Date : 1.9.2016

Extension of date for payment of fee for the Postman DR exam - 2016

Last date for payment of fee extended from 04.09.2016 to 10.09.2016.


Transfers and Postings in JAG of IPoS Group A

Date : 1.9.2016

Transfers and Postings in JAG of IPoS Group A

Transfers and Postings in JAG of IPoS Group A

The following transfers and Postings are ordered by Postal Directorate vide memo dated 31.08.2016.


1.Sri E.V.Rao, DPS Mumbai region is transferred and posted as DPS Vijayawada region. 

2.Sri K.Somasundaram, DPS VIjayawada is transferred and posted as DPS (M& BD) Chennai.

PLI-RPLI - Revamping of Marketing (Sales) Structure

Date : 31.8.2016

PLI-RPLI - Revamping of Marketing (Sales) Structure






MGNREGA - Proposal for National Level Annual Award

Date : 31.8.2016

MGNREGA - Proposal for National Level Annual Award






PRESS CONFERENCE OF CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS.

Date : 31.8.2016

PRESS CONFERENCE OF CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS.



By PTI | 31 Aug, 2016, 2036 hrs IST.Economic Times

September 2 nationwide strike to be bigger than last year's: Unions

Strike is going to be complete in industrial sectors such as transport, financial, power, coal, textile, port and dock, automobile, steel, oil, defence production, scheme, education and Central and State government employees.

NEW DELHI: As many as 10 central trade unions will go ahead with the general strike on Friday saying the government gave no heed to their 12-point charter of demands and is continuing with unilateral labour reforms. 

CTUs claimed that over 15 crore workers are likely to participate in the strike and it will be bigger than the one held last year 

CTUs reiterate the call for countrywide general strike on September 2 against the "anti-worker and anti-people policies" of the government and in view of its "utterly unresponsive and undemocratic attitude", CITU General Secretary Tapen Sen said here in a joint press conference by 10 CTUs here. 

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said the unions view the announcements made by Ministers' panel, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, as an eyewash

Indian National Trade Union Congress(INTUC) Vice President Ashok Singh said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his fight is with poverty, but it seems his fight is with the poor in this country. The government's decision are totally pro-capitalist." 

Department of Posts- Appeal on one day General Strike on 2nd September, 2016

Date : 31.8.2016

Department of Posts- Appeal on one day General Strike on 2nd September, 2016

Department of Posts

Appeal on one day General Strike on 2nd September, 2016   


No.08/20/2016-SR (PT)   
Department of Posts- Appeal on one day General Strike on 2nd September, 2016
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
                               Dated:- 30th  August, 2016


To,

The Secretary General,
National Federation of Postal Employees,
1st Floor, North Avenue Post Office Building,
New Delhi-110001

The Secretary General,
Federation of National Postal Organisations,
T-24, Atul Grove Road,
New Delhi-110001.

General Secretary,
All India Gramin Dak Sevaks Union,
1st Floor, Padam Nagar PO Building,
New Delhi-110007.

APPEAL
          On behalf of Department of Posts, I hereby appeal to you to call off the proposed one day General Strike on 2nd September, 2016 as no useful purpose is served by such agitations.

From the perusal of the “Charter of Demands” most of the demands are general in nature which relate to all Central/Public Sector Government employees and only some relates to Postal and GDS issues. The issues relating to Postal Department are being examined. It will therefore, be in the overall interest of the Postal Department to dissuade from adopting an agitational approach.  The proposed strike may therefore be called off.
                                                                             Sd/-
( Shailendra Dashora )
Deputy Director General (SR & Legal)

CURRENT CHARGE OF CPMG ANDHRA PRADESH CIRCLE - SRI.SAMPATH, IPoS

Date : 31.8.2016

CURRENT CHARGE OF CPMG ANDHRA PRADESH CIRCLE - SRI.SAMPATH, IPoS





Minimum wage hiked to Rs. 350, but unions firm on strike plan

Date : 31.8.2016

Minimum wage hiked to Rs. 350, but unions firm on strike plan
Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Bandaru Dattatreya at a press meet in New Delhi. — Photo: Ramesh Sharma | The Hindu
Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh announces it will not take part in the strike.
The Left affiliated central trade unions will go ahead with a nationwide strike on Friday, even as the Centre on Tuesday announced sops in a bid to placate them.

The peace offering includes a hike in the minimum wage for unskilled non-agricultural workers in central public sector units from Rs. 246 to Rs. 350 a day and formation of a committee to look into extending benefits under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation Act to unorganised sectors, including anganwadi, mid-day meal and Asha volunteers.
The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh saw it as a “historic victory for workers” and decided not to participate in the strike, while the others were dissatisfied and refused to drop the strike plan.
The Finance Ministry also issued a notification on higher bonus to government employees for 2014-15 and 2015-16. This will have a financial impact of Rs. 3,840 crore.
We’ve agreed to address most demands, says Dattatreya
The government measures meant to allay trade unions and make them drop their proposed strike on Friday include an advisory to States to register unions within 45 days.
They were announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a briefing with Power, Coal and Mines Minister Piyush Goyal and Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya.
Mr. Jaitley said he “will not link” the announced measures with the strike call given by central trade unions as the Group of Ministers steered by him on labour issues had been working on these proposals for over a year.
“Out of the unions’ 12 demands, there were eight labour-related issues and we have agreed to address seven of them. This is a pro-worker government. The UPA government was unable to address even one of their demands,” Mr. Dattatreya said, urging unions to call off the strike in “national interest.”
“There is no concrete proposal to address our demands. The minimum wage for unskilled worker comes out to be near Rs. 9,100 per month which is nowhere near our demand of Rs. 18,000 a month,” AITUC national secretary D.L. Sachdev said. “We have been hearing about the government’s intention to cover unorganised workers under ESIC since the last two years but it has failed to act.”
Terming the BMS’ move not to participate in the strike as “unfortunate”, he said there is no question of going back on the strike call. The BMS had similarly opted out of a strike observed by central trade unions last September. In a press statement on Tuesday, the BMS asked its State units to organise victory marches and publicise the proposals announced by the government.
The minimum wage for unskilled workers will be revised upward soon for workers involved in sweeping and cleaning, watch and ward, loading and unloading, construction, non-coal mines and stone mines for units falling under the central government.
Mr. Dattatreya said unorganised workers, implementing various schemes such as mid-day meal, will be given ESIC facilities for the first time in 45 years. “A committee will look into how much premium workers and the state will have to contribute to the scheme,” Mr. Jaitley said, adding that such people will still be treated as volunteers and not workers as they are involved in transient jobs.
Amendment of law
The Centre, however, continued to press for amending the labour laws. “We want to create a conducive environment in industry so that employment is generated. For that, labour law reforms are necessary but in a positive and pro-worker direction,” Mr. Dattatreya said.
The labour unions have been opposing several proposed amendments to the labour laws.
Mr. Jaitley said that the Centre will be “supporting” the trade unions on legal hurdles holding up the new Payment of Bonus law enacted last year.
Many industrial units in several States have filed 97 court cases in 14 High Courts and the Centre has instructed the Additional Solicitor General to vacate the stay orders, Mr. Dattatreya said.

Doubts and clarifications on the strike day.

Date : 31.8.2016
31/08/2016
 Doubts and clarifications on the strike day.

 Our Federation receiving calls from many cadres’ genuine doubts are clarified here.
 1) Why FNPO is participating strike?
 It is already published in our website and Federal sentinel August, 2016.
 2) Why FNPO participating one day strike?
 Situations are changed further this is  central trade unions call we have to obey as sincere soldiers.
 3) When there is a 24 hours office at what time strike start?
 It is clear strike starts12 at mid night on 01/09/2016.
 4) Circle /Regional& Divisional offices are holidays on Saturday and Sunday is there any chance the Department construes this point?
 Members who don’t want to participate strike created this issue. It is very clear strike is for only one day on 2nd September. Notice issued by central Trade unions accordingly and followed by us don’t create confusion.
 Do Participate in the 2nd September strike and feel proud. Cowards only run away from the battle not by sincere soldiers.
D.Theagarajan
 S.G.FNPO.

Tuesday 30 August 2016

7th Pay Commission: Change rules to reflect recommendations, Govt tells dept

Date : 31.8.2016

7th Pay Commission: Change rules to reflect recommendations, Govt tells depts

7th Pay Commission: Change rules to reflect recommendations, Govt tells depts
The Centre has accepted most of the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, to be implemented from January 1, 2016.
The meeting will be taken with representatives of all the ministries in first week of October, it said
All central government departments have been asked to change service and recruitment rules to reflect recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.
They have been asked not to make reference to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Union Public Service Commission and modify the service rules on their own.
The Centre has accepted most of the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, to be implemented from January 1, 2016.
“Consequential amendment in the existing service rules and recruitment rules shall be made by the ministries or departments by substituting the existing pay band and grade pay by the new pay structure i.e. ‘Level in the Pay Matrix’ straightaway without making a reference to the Department of Personnel and Training and Union Public Service Commission,” the DoPT said in an order.
In this regard, a confirmation meeting is scheduled to be taken by the DoPT “to take stock of the latest position of amendment in service rules/recruitment rules”.
The meeting will be taken with representatives of all the ministries in first week of October, it said.
All central government departments have already been asked to set up committees to look into various pay related anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Pay Commission’s recommendations.
There will be two levels of Anomaly Committees — National and Departmental — consisting of representatives of the official side and the staff side of the national council and the departmental council, respectively.
Source : Indian Express

Brief of the meeting held today between the Government of India and the National Council (JCM) (Staff Side)

Date : 30.8.2016

Brief of the meeting held today between the Government of India and the National Council (JCM) (Staff Side)


header-ncjcm
No.NC/JCM/2016 Dated: August 30, 2016
All Constituents of
National Council(JCM)
Dear Comrades!
Sub: Brief of the meeting held today between the Government of India and the National Council (JCM) (Staff Side)
The Government of India has constituted a committee, under the Chairmanship of Addl. Secretary(Exp.) with J.S.(Pers.), JS(Estt.) and JS(Imp.) as members, to deal with the pending issues of our memorandum, submitted to the Empowered Committee, of which prominent are “Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor”.
The first meeting of the said committee with the National Council(JCM) Staff Side was held today, i.e. 30th August, 2016, which remained almost introductory. Apart from the Official Side members, Shri M. Raghaviah, Shri M.S. Raja and I myself(from the Staff Side JCM) attended the said meeting.
We raised vehemently the issues of “Minimum Wage and Multiplying Formula” and made them very clear that; the VII CPC has accepted Dr. Aykroyd Formula for fixing Minimum Wage, but has not implemented the said formula in full sense, so, that is not acceptable to the Staff Side(JCM), therefore, Minimum Wage from Rs.18000 must be enhanced and accordingly Fitment Formula should also be changed.
It was agreed by the committee that, since we are again meeting on 1st September, 2016 with the Committee on Allowances, the next meeting of the said committee will be fixed in consultation with the Staff Side(JCM).
Thereafter, we also met the Cabinet Secretary(Government of India) and there also we shown our anguish about the inordinate delay in resolving those issues which were agreed to. The Cabinet Secretary said that, orders for the gratuity have been issued for the NPS covered employees, and orders for the PLB and arrears have also been issued. Many of the issues raised by the Staff Side(JCM) have been accepted and implemented and the remaining issues would also be pursued and settled.
sign convener njca

Meeting of Group of Senior Officers to discuss the grievances arising out of recommendations related to 7th Central Pay Commission - reg.

Date :30.8.2016

Meeting of Group of Senior Officers to discuss the grievances arising out of recommendations related to 7th Central Pay Commission - reg.


Basic Minimum Wages for Central Sphere Workers Revised

Date : 30.8.2016

Basic Minimum Wages for Central Sphere Workers Revised 

Minimum Wages to be Rs.350/- Per Day for Unskilled Non-Agricultural Workers for ‘C’ Category Areas 

Shri Arun Jaitely, the Union Finance Minister, the Union Minister of State(IC) for Labour and Employment Shri Bandaru Dattatreya and Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy & Mines had a joint Press conference here today on charter of demands of the Central Trade Unions.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment (I/C) has held meetings with Central Trade Union leaders wherein detailed discussions were held in regard to their charter of demands. Thereafter, the issues were discussed by the Inter- Ministerial Committee headed by the Finance Minister. The following decisions have been taken by the Government:

1. The Bonus Amendment Act will be implemented strictly. The Central Government will pay Bonus for the years 2014-15 and 2015-16 based on revised norms. A government notification in this regard is being issued immediately.

2. The Central Government will take necessary steps to resolve the cases pending in High Courts/Supreme Court with regard to payment of Bonus.

3. It has been decided that, based on the deliberations in the meeting of the Minimum Wage Advisory Board under the Chairmanship of Minister for State for Labour and Employment (I/C) for revising the basic minimum wages for central sphere, the Government has decided to fix the minimum wages at Rs.350/- per day for unskilled non-agricultural workers for ‘C’ category areas keeping in view the modalities of fixing minimum wages.

4. The registration of the contract workers and their staffing agencies is mandatory as per law and states will be advised to strictly implement the same. Erring contractors will face appropriate action for any violation in this regard.

5. The issue of giving social security benefit to the unorganised sector (eg., Anganwadi, Mid-day meal, Asha volunteers etc.) will be examined by a committee which will give its report at the earliest.

6. Advisories will be issued to all the States Governments to ensure that registration of Trade Unions takes place within 45 days.

7. The Central government has reiterated its commitment towards tripartite consultation process.

8. Sector specific meetings will be held to resolve issues relating to respective industries.

Later interacting with media Shri Bandaru Dattatreya appealed to Trade Unions to reconsider their call for strike, in national interest. 

7th Pay Commission Latest News – Three important demands of NJCA

Date : 30.8.2016

7th Pay Commission Latest News – Three important demands of NJCA

7th Pay Commission Latest News – Three important demands of NJCA which are likely to be discussed in the 7th CPC Meeting to be held on 1st September 2016

To discuss the anomalies related to the implementation of 7th Pay Commission, the high-powered Committee of Secretaries formed by Centre has invited leading employee union National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) for a meeting on September 1.
NJCA would be represented at the meet by it’s current convenor Shiv Gopal Mishra. Aggrieved Central Government employees pin their final hope in the outcome of the Sept 1 meeting. If the Government constituted body fails to incorporate their demand, a large section of the organized workforce would call a strike.
Although, it has not been revealed whether the Committee of Secretaries would attempt to negotiate the demands at the upcoming meet, it has been assured that grievances of the employees, as raised by the Unions, would be noted down in a detailed manner by the Secretaries. Representing NJCA, Shiv Gopal Mishra is expected to show an uncompromising stand on at least the following three demands: 1) Hike in Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA),  2) Revision in the hike of minimum salary, 3) Availability of ‘Option 1′ for pensioners.
Hike in Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA): Central Government employees had demanded the 7th Pay panel led by Justice (retd) AK Mathur to raise FMA from current Rs 500 per month to Rs 2,000 per month. The demand appears legit to the employee unions as even many of the private sector companies are paying Rs 1200 to Rs 1800 per month as medical allowance to lower-middle level employees.
Revision of hike in minimum salary: NJCA, along with other employee unions have raised the demand to restructure the hike in minimum salary using 3.68 fitment factor. The entry-level pay as per 6th Pay Commission was Rs 7,000. The AK Mathur-led panel increased the minimum salary by multiplying with 2.57 fitment factor. This increased the salary to Rs 18,000. If the 3.68 fitment factor would be used, the minimum salary would be restructured to Rs 26,000.
Availability of ‘Option 1′: The All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association (AIPRPA) has demanded the Government to enable Option 1 for hiking their pensions. According to Option 1, the hiked pensions would be fixed in the pay matrix on basis of the grade and and pay band in which they were enrolled at the time of retirement. According to the second option, the pay panel has recommended the pension hike by using 2.57 fitment factor. The second option would multiply their existing pensions by 2.57.
Despite Shiv Gopal Mishra appearing as the leading voice among those who are articulating the cause of aggrieved employees, a number of central government employees have raised doubts against him. His decision to roll back the July 11 mass strike, which was expected to evoke the participation of 33 lakh central government employees, has not gone down well with those among the dissidents. Several employees have straightaway asserted that if the government fails to pay heed to at least the above three demands, a rejuvenated call for strike should be made.
Source: India.com

Do Participate in the 2nd September strike and feel proud

Date : 30.8.2016

Do Participate in the 2nd September strike and feel proud.

Government is issuing orders one by one last fewdays considering our demands to break the strike on 2nd September 2016. But our important demands of Minimum wage, Stoppage of contractorisation in permanent/perennial work and No unilateral amendment to labour laws is not considered by the Government.


The favorable orders of

1) Extension of benefit of Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity to the Central Government Employees covered by new Defined Contribution Pension System (National Pension System) –

2) Grant of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) and non-Productivity Linked Bonus (Ad-hoc bonus) in case of Central Government employees for the accounting year 2014-15- enhancement of the calculation ceiling-

Were issued only after seeing our strike notice.

 If you want self respect from your officers go strike on 2nd September.

We are not against the Government. We are fighting against the principles of the Government

We are not worried who is ruling country our concern is who is protecting the workers interest.

We are losing our rights one by one which got by our senior leaders by sacrificing themselves.

We should not be blamed by our future generations.

 Do Participate in the 2nd September strike and feel proud.

Cowards only run away from the battle not by sincere soldiers.

Doubts and clarifications on the strike day will be published our website tomorrow.

D.THEAYAGARAJAN

S/G FNPO

Monday 29 August 2016

Date : 30.8.2016

Banks, Factories To Close On Friday. PM Modi Calls Emergency Meet


Story Highlights
  • *Trade unions accuse government of ignoring 12 demands
  • *Minimum wage must be raised, foreign investment not ok: unions
  • *Banks, factories to close. Government offices also to be affected
New Delhi: With trade unions flat out refusing to cancel a massive strike called for Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an emergency meeting this evening to discuss what assurance it can give them to make them change their mind.

The session was attended by Arun Jaitley, Piyush Goyal and Bandaru Dattatreya, who head the Finance, Power and Labour ministries. Sources who attended the meeting said that within 48 hours, the government will reach out again to unions with an offer that could help avert the strike.

Banks, government offices and factories will be closed on Friday across the country, the unions have warned. Railway employees have so far not indicated they will join the shutdown, which means trains are unlikely to be affected. However, several state unions have said they back the strike, which could affect other public transport.

The unions have since September last year been pushing for 12 major demands include raising the minimum wage from Rs 9,000 to Rs 18,000 per month. They are also opposed to the government's recent loosening of rules for foreign investment particularly in sectors like pharmaceutical and defence, where, they say, national security could be compromised.

The strike and accusations of not protecting workers' interests come at a time when the government is delivering major reforms to re-energise the economy, and trying to fight the perception of it aligning with the interests of big business.

The PM last week told his party leaders that they must publicise and more effectively communicate pro-poor welfare schemes.

Also caught between a rock and a hard place is the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a major union linked to the ruling BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS. If it joins the strike, it will allow Left-affiliated unions and the opposition to claim the government's policies are unacceptable even to agencies with close ties. Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh has yet to decide its position for Friday. Last year, it did not participate in a similar shutdown, opting out after a government assurance to look at nine of the 12 demands presented by unions.

Trade union strike on Sept 2: Narendra Modi govt faces biggest strike since coming to power

Date : 30.8.2016

Trade union strike on Sept 2: Narendra Modi govt faces biggest strike since coming to power


women in garment industryA fixed minimum wage between Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000 per month has been on top of the CTUs’ 12-point charter of demands.
The government’s effort to dissuade 10 central trade unions (CTUs) from going ahead with the September 2 strike did not succeed on Monday as the minimum wage advisory board (MWAB) meeting remained inconclusive.
A fixed minimum wage between Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000 per month has been on top of the CTUs’ 12-point charter of demands. A positive outcome of the MWAB meeting, which was preponed from the earlier scheduled on September 6, could have saved the government from the embarrassing labour stir.
With the meeting failing to reach a consensus, RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which unlike 10 other CTUs is yet to give their strike call, may also join the stir. This would make it the biggest-ever labour strike since the new government under Narendra Modiassumed office in May, 2014.
Talking to FE earlier in the day, BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said the trade union would take part in the strike if the government gives orders and not just written assurances on majority of their 12-point charter of demands that includes a minimum wage of Rs 15,000 per month.
At its three-day Kendriya Karya Samiti (KKS) meeting in Bhopal earlier this month, BMS had resolved to declare the strike on September 2, but left the onus of taking the final call on its president B N Rai and Upadhyay.
Currently, minimum wage for an unskilled worker in the central sector is Rs 211 per day or Rs 5,486 a month.
FE had earlier reported that the government has proposed a steep 60-95% hike in the minimum wages for its contract/temporary workers in 45 scheduled employment categories, ranging from agriculture to construction and mining, to Rs 9,150 per month. The minimum wage in a state is fixed by the state only.
AITUC national secretary D L Sachdeva, who attended the MWAB meeting, said the unions demanded that there should be uniformity in the minimum wage across the country for all workers — be it domestic help or the industry worker, and the amount should not be less than the monthly starting pay of Rs 18,000 for the central government staff as per the 7th Pay Commission.
“We have demanded that a national minimum wage should be fixed below which no state will fix the minimum wages. Developed states can fix higher wages than the national minimum wage. The strike call stands,” he added.
Another official who was present during the meeting, said employers’ representatives also agreed to the idea that the minimum wages should be hiked, but there was resistance from their side on making it as high as Rs 15,000 since that will cost them dearly.
A government official said on the condition of anonymity that the central government does not have the legislative power to fix the minimum wage for a state since labour is in the concurrent list. The proposed monthly minimum wage of Rs 9,150 for an unskilled farm worker in Class C areas (as against Rs 211 now) has been arrived at after taking into account his four-member family’s energy need for 2,700 k cal a day as well as clothes, fuel, power, educational, medical and rental expenses, the official added.
Meanwhile, though CTUs ruled out postponing the strike, they were expecting some favourable outcome from the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya late on Monday
Source : Financial Express

Workers Strike Back; 2nd September Strike Demands Explained

Date : 30.8.2016

Workers Strike Back; 2nd September Strike Demands Explained

On 2 September 2016, crores of workers across the country will go on strike demanding an end to the all-round attack launched by the government against their lives, livelihood and dignity. Representing the interests of the big capitalists, both domestic and foreign, the Modi government has been trying to fool the working people with false promises even as it supports and actively imposes a policy that is snatching away jobs, looting family budgets, disarming workers of their rights and opening the doors to harsher exploitation. Last year’s all India strike saw an incredible 15 crore workers go on strike. This strike on 2 September is bound to surpass that, telling the government and the ruling class that it is not going to back down. Here is a brief explainer of the workers’ demands:

 Urgent measures for containing price-rise through universalisation of public distribution system and banning speculative trade in commodity market

Prices of several essential commodities have steadily risen for the past two years. In some cases, like pulses, the rise has been as high as over 100%. Then, there are periodic spikes in some commodities like onions or potatoes. Net result is that working people’s family budgets have been devastated and they are having to cut down on nutritious food just to survive. Already, over 56% of women in the country and a similar share of children are anemic. The food security act passed in 2013 is yet to be rolled out fully. The Act is itself limited, providing affordable food grains to just two thirds of the country, and not having provision for increasing population. It does not cover many essential commodities. If more commodities, like pulses and oil are included and its coverage is increased to all the people, it will provide much needed food to malnourished families. This will also finish off hoarding and speculative trading which drives up prices. But the government is refusing to pay attention to hungry people across the country and continues to provide concessions to big traders and food companies.

 Containing unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation

According to government estimates, about 1.2 crore Indians join the labour force every year in India. There are already over 10 crore people unemployed and crores more who are called ‘employed’ but are forced to work in very low paying jobs – a hidden kind of unemployment. Women’s employment has hit rock bottom with just 27% women over 15 years of age working – one of the lowest in the world. The situation is explosive but the government is groping about, unable or unwilling to address the tide of joblessness. Its fancy schemes like ‘Make in India’ or ‘Skill India’ or industrial corridors are just pies in the sky, giving profits to industrialists but nothing for the workers. On top of this, govt. policies of privatization and contractualisation are creating more unemployment. Those who have jobs today face an uncertain future while the youth, among whom 25% are unemployed, are hopeless and angry.

 Minimum wages of not less than Rs 18,000 per month with provisions of indexation
Minimum wage rates fixed by state governments are cruelly low in shameless violation of well-settled principles and Supreme Court orders. According to calculations done by experts, for a worker’s family having three members, the minimum amount required for their food, shelter, clothing etc. is about Rs.20,000. This takes into account the principle set down by the Indian Labour Conference of 1957 and those laid down by the Supreme Court in 1992. Last year, the central government had suggested Rs.6098 as minimum wage, without any basis. Their real consideration was and still remains only one – profits of employers should not suffer, so keep the wages as low as possible. The trade union movement has adjusted its demand to Rs.18,000 instead of Rs.20,000 in order to make it more feasible. But the government is refusing to listen. With the way prices are rising, and with the public distribution system not meeting the needs inflation robs working people relentlessly. Hence a minimum wage linked to prices is of utmost importance to crores of workers across the country.
 Stoppage of contractorisation in permanent perennial work and payment of same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work
One of the surest ways for industrialists to depress wages, deny various benefits to workers and prevent them for organizing is the contract system that has spread across all sectors. Even in public sector enterprises 22% of the employees/workers are on contract. In private enterprises the situation is worse. Although clear laws exist that workers doing perennial nature of work should not be on contract and that contract workers need to be given the same pay and benefits as regular workers, employers have taken advantage of the govt.’s complicity and court’s indifference to flout these laws. As a result contract workers are to be found working at less wages and for more hours. This also destroys the unity of workers and weakens their striking power. All kinds of contractual labour needs to be ended and a united fight by regular and contract workers for regularization of contract workers has to be launched.

 Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.
 Against Labour Law Amendments

Labour laws provide some protection to workers and ensure that they can survive under conditions of harsh exploitation. Laws on minimum wages, working hours, job security, medical support, provident fund, maternity benefits, etc. were won by struggles of workers decades ago. But it has always been a dream of capitalists to do away with these laws so that they can suck the last drop of profit from the workers’ labour. Modi government appears to have promised them to make this dream a reality. In many BJP ruled states wholesale changes have been made in labour laws so that employers can hire and fire workers at will and allow changes in service conditions. And, the central govt. is ready with new laws that will dilute existing ones. Already the labour laws enforcement mechanism had been destroyed by previous governments leaving the workers at the mercy of ruthless and greedy industrialists. Now this is being further ground down. Unless the workers step up and fight for their legal rights, they will even snatch away the right to form trade unions. , 80-90% of workers never get wages equal to them.

 Universal social security cover for all workers
 Assured enhanced pension not less than Rs.3,000 p.m. for the entire working population

Social security means ensuring that workers and their families get financial support for illness and for times when they are unable to work after a certain age. This is not some charity or goodwill gesture on the part of employers. It is a right of workers who spend their lives laboring away so that the employers’ earn their profits. But the government, far from acknowledging this universal right is conspiring to dismantle even the existing laws which cover only a fraction of India’s workforce. While refusing to extend ESI and EPF coverage to lakhs of workers in the unorganized sector, it has recently made several attempts to impose ceilings, use accumulated PF monies for investing in volatile stock market speculation, prevent workers from withdrawing from PF etc. It is also committed to converting the whole concept of social security into a profit making enterprise by trying to impose an insurance model (worker pays premium to private company) with no contribution from govt. Its proposal for such a macabre scheme for anganwadi workers/helpers with a premium as high as Rs.250 was defeated recently. 

 Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity.

Bonus is a small share of the profit that an employer makes from the labour of the workers. Suppose an industrialist makes 40% profit in one year. So, why should the share of workers’ bonus be limited to say 8.33% only? If there is no limit to profit there should not be any limit to the bonus share that a worker gets. Again, this is not some charity being asked for from the employers. It is a just and rightful share that the workers are asking. In fact bonus is actually considered a ‘deferred wage’ by the courts. This means that it is like wages except that it is being paid once at the end of the year. A similar logic applies to gratuity which is a rightful recognition of the years of service put in by the worker during which the employer had surely earned huge profits from the workers’ labour. So, when the worker retires or quits after many laboring years, should he or she not get a share of the wealth created by labour? The government of course is enslaved by the capitalist class and so it is callous to this logic. It only searches for ways to cut down on labour costs by depressing wages, cutting down on various entitlements like bonus and gratuity and snatching away social security rights.

 Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days from the date of submitting application; and immediate ratification of ILO Conventions C 87 and C 98

The only way governments listen to workers is when they fight back the attacks. And, the only way workers can effectively fight back is when they are organized around a fighting banner. The government and the capitalist class knows this very well. That is why they are trying their utmost to dismantle the workers’ right to organize and fight. Already many changes had been made by previous governments in the Trade Unions Act which make it difficult for workers to register their trade unions or get recognition from managements. The present government, with its naked hostility to the working class is planning to further restrict this right. This attack is not confined to the government alone. The judiciary and bureaucracy, as well as dominant media and intellectual apologists for the bourgeoisie continue to abuse workers if they so much as stir one finger to get justice. Against this all round attack, workers have to strike back forcefully and retrieve their rights.

 Stoppage of disinvestment in Central/State PSUs
 Against FDI in Railways, Insurance and Defence

The public sector employs over workers in India. It controls many crucial and strategic sectors of the economy, providing a bulwark against private loot. But since the adoption of neo-liberal policies in the country there has been a systematic attempt to privatize the public sector and invite foreign capital in some parts of industry. The purpose of this vile conspiracy is to use national assets to fill the coffers of domestic and foreign companies. The present government is going about this greedily and with haste. It has set a target of raising Rs.56,000 crore from the sale of such profit making PSUs as BHEL, IOC, ONGC, HPCL, BPCL and few others. What will be the result of this? Firstly, the sale is being done at very low prices to ensure that private capitalists gain and the country loses. For example SAIL’s value is estimated at about Rs.5 lakh crore. But by pegging its share value at Rs.200, it could be sold for just Rs.82,600 crore! That’s less than one-fifth the price. But there is a more important aspect. Privatisation, especially if foreign ownership means that the country’s resources will be used for private profit not for the people’s good. Also, it will mean an open attack on the employed workers who will either get thrown out or converted to contract labour. Inviting foreign direct investment in such key sectors as defence and railways means that the country’s backbone will be handed over to foreign interests, who will no longer care for either the country’s sovereignty or for its workers.


Source :  http://cpim.org/views/workers-strike-back-2nd-september-strike-demands-explained