Bonanza for Telangana employees

In a move that will almost double the salaries of Telangana employees, the state government announced implementation of the pay hike recommended by the pay revision commission (PRC) with a fitment of 43%. 

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said at a press conference on Thursday that the pay panel, headed by special chief secretary to the government K Pradeep Chandra, was the first PRC of Telangana. 

"Ours is an employee-friendly government. We have recognised the employees' role in realisation of statehood. The notification of the implementation of pay hike will be issued on Friday which is regarded as goddess Lakshmi's day," said the chief minister. 
The pay hike, which results in an additional burden of Rs 6,500 crore to the exchequer, will be implemented with retrospective effect from June 2, 2014 - the day Telangana was formed. The chief minister said that the arrears would be deposited in the employees' general provident fund (GPF) account which fetches 8.5% interest. The revised salaries will reach the employees beginning this March. 

The announcement led to jubilation in the Secretariat and employees celebrated by bursting fire crackers. Over 3.5 lakh government staff will enjoy the benefit. 

"We thank the chief minister for the PRC implementation. We know this would a burden on the exchequer. We assure that the employees will work hard to enhance revenue for the government," chairman of Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers' (TNGO) Association, S Devi Prasad Rao, said. 

While the 10th PRC headed by PK Agarwal had recommended 29% fitment in its report submitted in July 2013, Telangana employees demanded 69% and a minimum monthly wage of Rs 15,000. 

The government constituted the Pradeep Chandra committee to look into the demands of employees. After several rounds of consultations with representatives of various employee associations including TNGO and Telangana Gazetted Officers' Association (TGO), the committee recommended the pay hike formula. 

The chief minister said that he hurried to announce the new pay since a notification was expected any moment for the state legislative council elections due in March. Once the notification is issued, the government could not have implemented the hike since the poll code will not allow it. 

While there is no mention about the demand of the minimum wage of Rs 15,000, the CM said that the PRC would look into pending anomalies in the salary structure. "We hope that this issue would be addressed by the panel and employees will get their due," said chairman of commercial tax employees' joint action committee, T Vivek. 
Source : Times of India

Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees for the financial year 2013-2014.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY of RAILWAYS

(RAILWAY BOARD)

RBE No. 106/2014.

No- E[P&A)II-2014/PLB-3

New Delhi, dated : 26.09.2014.

The General Managers/CAOS,
All Indian Railways & Production Units etc.
(As per mailing lists No.1 & 2).

Subject: Payment of Productivity Linked Bonus to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees for the financial year 2013-2014.

The President is pleased to sanction provisionally, subject to the approval of competent authority, Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 [Seventy Eight] days wages without any ceiling on wages for eligibility for the financial year 2013-14 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding all RPF/RPSF personnel]. Where wages exceed Rs. 3500/- per month, Productivity Linked Bonus will be calculated as if‘wages’ are Rs. 3500/- p.m.

2. ‘Wages’ for the purpose of calculating Productivity Linked Bonus shall include ‘Basic pay’ as defined in the Railway Services [Revised Pay] Rules, 2008 and dearness allowance drawn during the financial year 2013-14. Other conditions of eligibility, method of calculation of wages, etc., as prescribed in this Ministry‘s instructions and clarifications issued from time to time, shall remain unchanged.

3. It has also been decided that in the case of eligible employees mentioned in Para 1 above who were not placed under suspension, or had not quit service/retired/expired during the financial year 2013-14 or were on leave where leave salary admissible is not less than that admissible on leave on average pay, may be paid an amount of Rs. 8975/- towards Productivity Linked Bonus for the financial year 2013-14. in the case of employees other than those mentioned above, the amount of Productivity Linked Bonus may be calculated in accordance with the extant instructions on the subject.

4. Further, in relaxation to the provisions in Rules 905(2), 908 and 909 of State Railway Provident Fund Rules, as contained in Chapter 9 of R-l/1985 edition (2003 Reprint edition), such of the subscribers to the SRPF as are entitled to Productivity Linked Bonus may, if they so desire, deposit the whole or part of the amount admissible under the Scheme in their respective State Railway Provident Fund Accounts.

5. Disbursement of Productivity Linked Bonus for the financial year 2013-14 to all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees mentioned in Para 1 above should be made on priority before the ensuing Puja/Dussehra holidays.

6. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

sd/-

(K. Shankar)

Director/E[P&A)