Inflation jumps to 5-month high

NEW DELHI: Rising vegetable prices and the impact of a weakrupee pushed inflation to a five-month high of 5.79% in July, posing yet another challenge for Asia's third-largest economy battling to defend the rupee and boost growth.

Official data released on Wednesday showed inflation, as measured by the wholesale price index, jumped to 5.79% in July from the previous month's 4.86%. Easing wholesale price inflation had fuelled expectations of a moderation in tight monetary policy but the slide of the rupee against the dollar has dashed those hopes for now.

Source : Times of India CLICK HERE 

Family Pension Orders

CLICK HERE FOR DOPT ORDER -1

CLICK HERE FOR DOPT ORDER -2

CLICK HERE FOR DOPT ORDER -3

Simplification of Procedure for Payment of Family Pension to Permanently Disabled Children/Siblings and Dependent Parents

The current Pension Rules provide that after the death of pensioner and his/her spouse a fresh Pension Payment Order would be issued for children and dependent parents for grant of family pension to them. Difficulties were being faced by disabled children/siblings and old parents in getting the family pension sanctioned after the death of the employee/pensioner.

The Government has therefore decided that an employee/pensioner/family pensioner may at anytime make a request to the Appointing Authority for advance approval to the grant of family pension for life to a permanently disabled child/sibling or dependent parents. On the basis of this approval, authorisation shall be made in the original Pension Payment Order (PPO) at the time of retirement or by issuing a revised authority. The permanently disabled child/sibling/ dependent parents will receive family pension at the appropriate time, i.e., after the death of employee/pensioner and/or after the death/ineligibility of any other member in the family who was eligible to receive family pension prior to the disabled child/sibling/dependent parents.

Where there are other eligible prior claimants to family pension, the names of disabled child/children/dependent parents/permanently disabled sibling will be added to the PPO issued to the preceding eligible family pensioner. Family pension to these permanently disabled child/children/siblings/dependent parents will be payable after the death/ineligibility of the prior claimant, as the case maybe.

Detailed instructions are available in OM No. 1/27/2011-P&PW(E), dated July 01, 2013 at the website of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare www.persmin.nic.in.

Source:pib

Income Tax Return Filling

Missed the August 5 deadline? You can still file your income tax returns

All persons whose income exceed Rs 2 lakhs should file Income Tax Returns 

Important tax return filing dates for the Assessment Year 2013-14 (Financial Year 2012-13)

• July 31: Due date for filing tax returns
• August 5: Extended due date
• March 31, 2014: Last date for filing returns without the penalty of Rs. 5000.  However penal interest of 1% per month of delay will be levied on taxes due, if any.
• March 31, 2015: Last date for filing with penalty of upto Rs.5,000

If you have missed the August 5 deadline for filing tax returns, you can still do so.  However, bear following implications in mind:

If you owe any taxes at the time of filing return, you will be charged a panel interest of 1% for every month of delay;

1. While tax return for the financial year 2012-13 can be filed up to March 31, 2015, you will have to pay a penalty of upto Rs.5,000 if it is filed after March 31, 2014.
2. You will not be able to file a revised return in case you have committed mistake while filing the original one.
3. You will not be allowed to carry forward any losses incurred under the head Capital Gains and 'Business Losses' (other than depreciation loss).
4. If you are entitled to interest on tax refund, if any, you may have to forgo the interest for the period of delay.

Regularisation of Contract Workers

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Labour & Employment 

07-August-2013 14:29 IST

Regularisation of Contract Workers 

Under the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, both Central and State Governments are the ‘Appropriate Government’. The estimated number of contract labourers, engaged by licensed contractors all over India in Central Sphere is 18.44 lakhs. 

As per Rule 25(2) of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Central Rules, 1971 , the wages of the contract labour shall not be less than the rates prescribed under Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and in cases where the contract workers perform the same or similar kind of work as the workmen directly employed by the principal employer of the establishment, the wage rates, holidays , hours of work and other conditions of service shall be the same as applicable to the workmen directly employed by the principal employer doing the same or similar kind of work. The liability to ensure payment of wages and other benefits is primarily that of the contractor and, in case of default, that of the principal employer. 

In case of complaints, field offices of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) Organization investigate and take action. Social security aspects of contract workers under Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952 and Employees State Insurance Act 1948 are enforced by the Employees Provident Fund organization and Employees State Insurance Corporation respectively provided the establishments in which outsourced workers are working are covered under the said Acts. 

There is no provision of regularisation under the Contract Labour (Regulation& Abolition) Act, 1970 and, therefore, there is no proposal to regularise the contract workers. 

This information was given by Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shri Kodikunnil Suresh in the Lok Sabha today in reply to a written question. 

WITHDRAW CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS

1st Floor, North Avenue PO Building, New Delhi – 110001

WITHDRAW CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME

SCRAP PFRDA BILL

PFRDA BILL LISTED IN THE AGENDA OF THE CURRENT SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT

CONFEDERATION CALLS UPON THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO ORGANIZE TWO HOURS WALK-OUT PROGRAMME ON THE DAY WHEN THE BILL IS
TAKEN UP FOR DISCUSSION
IN PARLIAMENT

As you are aware, Central Government is going ahead with their agenda on pension privatization. The controversial PFRDA Bill (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill) is listed as an agenda item for the current Parliament session. The bill may be taken up for discussion in Parliament on any day. Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers has opposed the Contributory Pension Scheme and also the PFRDA Bill from the very beginning.

We have conducted so many agitational programmes including strike. The left parties in the parliament have also strongly opposed the Bill. Inspite of the opposition from employees (both Central Government and State Government Employees & Teachers) and also from left political parties, the Central Government is not ready to withdraw the contributory Pension scheme or to scrap the PFRDA Bill.

The National Secretariat of the Confederation has viewed the move of the Government with grave concern and decided to call upon the entirety of the Central Government Employees & Workers to organize mass protest demonstration in front of all offices throughout the country after walking out from offices for two hours, on the day when the bill is taken up for discussion in Parliament or on the next day if information is received late.

All India office bearers, State level COCs and other COCs are requested to make the two hours walk out programme a grand success.

(M. Krishnan)

Secretary General

Source:http://confederationhq.blogspot.in/

COC Meeting on 13/8/13

To
All Affiliates
COC Karnataka

Comrades,       

          
         The COC meeting is being held on 13/8/13 (Tuesday) at 6.30 pm at Income Tax Office Bangalore, all are requested to attend COC  meeting to discuss the following  agenda.

1)  Outcome of  Central Trade Unions Meeting held on  6th August  2013 at New Delhi . 

2) Outcome of National Executive Meeting of Confederation  held on 22nd July 2013

3)   Implementation of Mass Meeting in August & Relay Dharna at different places in all important stations during the first week of September 2013 (from 2.09.2013 to 07.09.2013) program demanding 7th CPC as per Confederation Circular.

4)Financial position of the COC

5) Any other points

                                                                                                     Comradely yours
                                                                                                        (P.S.Prasad) 
                                                                                                     General Secretary

CPI(IW) Base 2001=100 Monthly Index Letter - JUNE 2013

CPI(IW) Base 2001=100 Monthly Index  - JUNE 2013 is 231
hence DA as on 1st July 2013 is 90%  

NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS

National Convention of Workers: Review of Post Strike situation, Settlement of 10 Point Charter Demand and Further Programme

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS

Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi: 6th August 2013

DECLARATION

The National Convention of Workers being held at Mavalankar Hall, New Delhi expresses serious concern and anguish over continuing indifference and inaction by the Govt. of India towards vital livelihood related demands presented before the Govt. by the all in united platform of trade unions and pursued through numerous agitations/programmes including strikes during last three years.

The Convention once again congratulates the workers for the unprecedented historic success of the two-day strike of 20-21 February'13. These strikes and struggles during last three years have strengthened and widened the unity of the Indian working class. The Convention also conveys its extreme anger and anxiety at the utter lack of concern demonstrated by the Government towards the crores of workers and the mass of the people.

In the wake of the resounding success of the two-day strike, the Prime Minister constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) to discuss and settle the Ten- Point Charter of Demands (COD) jointly formulated by all the Central Trade Unions in the country. The first meeting between CTUOs and the GoM was held on 22nd May 2013. The CTUOs had demanded to the GoM concrete response to the following burning issues on which the workers conducted strike struggle:(1) Minimum Wage not less than of Rs10,000, (2) Universal Social Security Cover for all workers,(3) Assured Pension for the entire working population,(4) same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work, (5) strict implementation of Labour Laws, (6) Concrete measures to contain price rise, (7) Concrete measures for employment generation, (8) stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs / Undertakings, (9) Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; Increase the quantum of gratuity and (10) Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Convention Nos. 87 and 98. Despite categorical announcement by the Prime Minister in the 451h Indian Labour Conference about the justness of the demands and that many of them are under advanced stage of consideration, the GoM, instead of making any concrete response told the CTUOs that the Government need more time to study the CoD and thus the meeting ended without any concrete result.

Conveying their concern on the most unfortunate outcome of the meeting the CTUOs in their joint letter to the Prime Minister on 23rd May 2013, noted, "the meeting remained disappointing as nothing concrete has emerged in the response of the Government on the 10 point demands raised by the Central Trade Unions." The CTUOs had urged upon the Prime Minister to ensure that the long pending demands are sorted out through dialogue between the Government and the CTUOs within one month.

The National Convention of Workers expresses anguish over the indifference of the Govt towards the long pending burning issues concerning livelihood of the working people in the country who keep thenational economy running and create wealth for the economy, revenues for the public exchequer and also profit for the employers while bearing the unbearable burden of all round exploitation through denial of their basic and minimum rights. The soaring price rise, increasing joblessness, opening up almost all sectors to FDI and further disinvestment of PSUs to cover budget deficit has pushed to country to economic crisis. The Convention calls upon the working people to raise their voice against such indifference and injustice and prepare for intensifying the countrywide united struggle in the days to come.

Accordingly, in the present phase, the following joint programme of agitation is unanimously adopted in the Convention:

1) Demonstration/Rallies/Satyagraha at all State Capitals with respective statewide mobilization on 25th September 2013 

2) Massive Demonstration before Parliament with main mobilization from neighbouring states on 12th December, 2013

3) On the same day of Demonstration before Parliament (12th December 2013); District-level Demonstrations at all District Headquarters all over the country.

4) Sectoralprogramme of joint actions for effectively opposing Restructuring, Outsourcing etc and on sector-specific issues/demands and against Divestment of Shares in Public Sector Enterprises

5) Exclusive joint Action Programmes on the demand of Minimum Wage and Contract Workers related other demands

The Convention appeals to the entire working class of the country to demonstrate the power of all-in-unity of the trade union movement and take part in the programmes at the respective levelsthundering the message unity of workers and their strong determination at each and every workplace throughout the country.

BMS INTUC AITUC HMS CITU

AIUTUC  TUCC SEWA AICCTU UTUC LPF

And

Independent Workers / Employees Federation 

CGHS-Parliamentary Panel recommendations

CGHS-Parliamentary Panel recommends super speciality hospitals in each metro city, mobile dispensaries, online bill submission etc.

A Parliamentary panel has strongly recommended setting up of super speciality hospitals exclusively for CGHS beneficiaries in each metro city on the lines of ESIC and Ministries of Railways and Defence. 

The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its report on the functioning of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) suggested strengthening of CGHS services by starting mobile dispensaries for underserved areas. 

The Committee also sought organising special sessions and maintaining special cells in all offices for redressal of public grievances. It also called for separate service windows to all senior citizens for availing medical facilities in hospitals/dispensaries whereever possible. 

The panel asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take up the issue of expansion of CGHS with the Ministry of Finance. 

It also demanded online bill submission and approval process so that online bills are submitted in hospitals while reviewing the reimbursement process and make it simpler. It also called for setting up of claim adalats for settling pending claims and online redressal of grievances under CGHS. 

The Committee also called for a separate insurance policy to cover the entire expenditure involved in the treatment of cancer and other terminally ill diseases for CGHS beneficiairies with its premium shared by government and beneficiairies. 

The Committte said the department should review the system to streamline and revamp it so as to remove the delay in supply of medicines. It also called for regularly monitoring the quality and efficacy of drugs supplied to beneficiaries. 

"The quality of medicines is the bedrock for health care services and if it gets compromised, it will erode the credibility of th whole health care delivery system. The Committee accordingly directs that suitable measures be taken to ensure that only good quality lab tested drugs are supplied to CGHS beneficiaires," the Committee recommended.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com