OFB JCM III level council meeting and APC
meetings held on 20, 22 & 23 November,
2017
INDWF/JCM III OFB/2017
Date: 01.12.2017
To
All Affiliated Unions of INDWF in OFB,
Office Bearers, Working Committee Members & Special
Invitees
OFB JCM III level council meeting and APC
meetings held on 20, 22 & 23 November, 2017 held at
OFB Hqrs Kolkatta.
On
21.11.2017 the Piece work Correlation sub-committee
meeting held at
Kolkatta under the Chairmanship of Shri A.K. Agarwal,
Sr. GM. OF
Khamaria at OFB Hqrs, Kolkatta
The brief of discussions, progress
and the outcome in the meeting are given below. Further,
the 4th APC
meeting discussions and proposals for the future of the
Ordnance
Factories is also given for the information of all the
affiliated
unions.
Discussions and the decision of the JCM III level
meeting held on 20 & 22, November 2017.
1) FILLING UP OF VACANCIES BY PROMOTION IN
ORDNANCE FACTORIES
After the rationalisation of posts in respect of
Industrial Employees
and Non-Industrial Employees sanctioned strength, large
numbers of
vacancies have arised in Ordnance Factories in addition
to the normal
recurring vacancies. Some factories have completed the
exercise of
conduction DPC/Trade Test and filled the vacancies.
Whereas, some
factories refused to fill the vacancies due to pending
case before
Hon'ble Supreme Court of India on the subject
reservations in promotion
treatment of SC/ST candidates promoted on their own
merit. In the JCM
III meeting it was raised and demanded that the
promotions are to be
effected based on the clarification given by DOP&T
OM No.
36012/11/2016-Estt (Res) Dt. 30.09.2016.
The issue was discussed
and OFB vide their letter No.CP(c) Np314/2016/Per/Resv
(SCT) Dt.
20.11.2017 directed all Ordnance Factories as mentioned
below:
"DOP&T
OM No.36012/11/2016-Estt(res) Dt 30.09.2016 clearly
indicates that the
policy of effecting promotions to reserved categories
persons to
unreserved post is sub-judice in the Hon'ble Apex Court
of India and
till such time that the SLP's are decided by the Hon'ble
Supreme Court,
while considering promotions, the DOP&T OM Dt
10.08.2010 and Railway
Board circular No. 14.09.2010 on the subject
reservation in promotion
treatment of SC/ST candidates promoted on their own
merit, are to be
relied upon".
Factories are requested to effect the promotions
accordingly, for which necessary instructions may please
be issued.
(Copy of the OFB letter posted in
Comnet of OFB Dt 2.11.2017 in Per/Reser (SC/ST)
2) TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE AFTER 7TH
CPC
Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of
Expenditure,
vide their OM NO. 19030/1/2017-EIV Dt 13.07.2017 issued
revision of
Travelling Allowance rules for the employees which are
applicable w.e.f.
01.07.2017 i.e., Travel entitlements within the
country
- Entitlement for Journeys by ‘Sea or River
Steamers
- Mileage allowance for journey by Road
- TA on Transfer
- TA entitlement of Retiring employees
It
was made a request by INDWF that the above order has
been circulated by
Ministry of Defence. Department of Defence D(Civ-I)
vide their letter
Dt 17.07.2017 for implementation, but the same has not
been circulated
by OFB to the Ordnance Factories for giving effect, and
grant the
revised benefits on these allowance. OFB has confirmed
that the above
orders in this respect have been recently issued through
Comnet to
Ordnance Factories this order can be downloaded from
Comnet of Ordnance
Factories and can avail the benefits w.e.f.
01.07.2017.
3) GRANTING OF ONE TIME RELAXATION IN RESPECT OF
LTC CLAIMS FOR RE-IMBURSEMENT UNDER LTC 80
SCHEME.
The issue of granting relaxation in respect of the
Defence Civilians
employees was taken up with MOD and DOP&T to grant
one time
relaxation under LTC 80 Scheme. DOP&T vide their ID
note No.
1193324/2016-Estt(A-IV) Dt 13.01.2017 and 03.07.2017
have advised the
administrative ministry department to examine each case
on the certain
broad parameters/criteria and where it is satisfied to
grant relaxation
as prescribed by DOP&T. The same was circulated by
MoD letter dated
18.07.2017 for examination of individual cases and
proposals on these
lines. In this respect, there are large numbers of
cases, the final
claims have been rejected and recovery has been effected
by Ordnance
Factories on the closed cases. It was demanded that OFB
needs to issue
necessary letters to Ordnance Factories to grant one
time relaxation by
verifying the cases/claims on case by case and
accordingly it should be
disposed, till such time the recovery should not be
effected with penal
interst.
OFB has replied that necessary instructions were given
still remainders will be issued to process the cases by
granting
relaxation under LTC-80 Scheme.
4) INDUSTRIAL RELATION PROBLEMS AT RIFLE
FACTORY, ICHAPORE
It was mentioned that IR problems at RFI is creating
severe
discontentment among unions and employees. RFI
management after the
theft of some pistol components have arrested the
concerned people but
imposed restriction on unions. Works Committee Society
members etc and
total activities of welfare matters have been stopped.
The production is
not very appreciable the targets are far below than the
expected level.
RFI management instead of concentrating on production
productivity
affairs they are only serious about distrubing the IR.
This needs to be
interfered for restoration of peace and of IR. Member
WV&E &
Chairman assured that is would be reviewed and settled
and at the same
time requested the Federation to advice the respective
unions to extend
the co-operation to the present General Manager who is
retiring on
30.11.2017.
5) DIRECT RECRUITMENT OF GROUP ‘C' AND LOCE FOR
CM
The Ordnance Factories had sanctioned posts for Direct
Recruitment an
Industrial and Non-Industrial category to each Ordnance
Factories and
the job is entrusted to OFRC. It was claimed although
necessary written
test have been conducted in respected of Group ‘C' post
in each Ordnance
Factories but the results are abnormally delayed which
raises
apprehensions. The delay may lead to some kind of
manipulations. The
Staff side raised this issue and demanded to finalise
without any
further delay and time limit should be fixed after
conducting the
written examination. OFB assured necessary steps would
be taken to
release the results at the earliest.
6) DISTANCE EDUCATION
Distance Education Diploma (Technical) obtained from
various
educational institutions were denied on the plea that
these institutes
are not recognised by AICTE. Recent judgement of
Supreme
Court was
issued.It was demanded that OFB should in consultation
with AICTE and
UGC needs to declare the institutes which are authorised
to declare
distance education diplams. Further the Diplomas already
obtained from
the Distance Education institution may be recognised for
promotion
purpose.
7) GRANTING OF NIGHT DUTY ALLOWANCE BY REMOVING
THE CEILING LIMIT
After raising the issue at MoD for lifting the ceiling
of NDA i.e.,
Rs.12380/- (BP +DP on 6th CPC) was agreed and
instruction were issued by
OFB and CGDA on this issue. INDWF demanded OFB to issue
necessary
instructions notifying the categories both Non-
Industrial Employees and
NGO's who are performing Night Duty in Ordnance
Factories. Industrial
Employees are fully eligible without ceiling, for Non-
Industrial
Employees and NGO's they have assured on 21.11.2017 the
notification was
issued by OFB with the concurrence of PC of A (Fys)
which has been
uploaded in the Comnet of OFB. This may be downloaded
from the comnet
and claim is allowed to get the benefit even in the
past.
8) 3% INCREMENT ON FIXATION OF PAY FOR MCM ON
THEIR PROMOTION TO CM (TECH)
Though MoD has already approved and granted 3%
increment for MCM on
their promotion to CM (Tech) having higher
responsibility from
Industrial to Supervisory post but the same has not been
accepted by PC
of A (Fys) yet, on the reasons that MCM is not the
feeder category to
Chargeman as per the existing SRO. After discussion PC
of A (Fys) agreed
to review and grant 3% increment for the promotee CM
from MCM.
9) OVERTIME PAYMENT CALCULATION
At present Overtime Allowance is being calculated based
in the VI CPC
pay scale due to the Overtime Allowance has not been
granted on the VII
CPC pay scale. It was raised in the meeting that even VI
CPC pay scale
the annual increments, promotional pay, MACP benefits on
pay have not
been taken into account for calculation of Overtime
Allowance. The pay
on 01.07.2016 is only taken for calculation of Overtime
bacause PC of A
(Fys) have made package on that day. It was demanded
that the package is
to be revised to add all this earning for calculation
of Overtime
Allowance as on accruing benefits PC of A (Fys) revise
the package
taking into account of all these earnings.
10) JCM IV LEVEL FUNCTIONING
National Council JCM, Departmental Council JCM, OFB
level JCM in all
these forums Finance and Accounts official responsible
for taking
decisions are participating regularly, whereas in JCM IV
level it has
been informed by local union that the official from
finance and accounts
are not participating are they are deputing the
auditors only who are
not having any authority to take any decision. In this
issue it was
deliberated PC of A (Fys) agreed to issue necessary
instruction to
depute not less than Accounts officer.
11) OPERATION OF PROMOTIONS FROM CM TO
JWM
The issue was discussed and demanded that the vacancies
in the JCM are
not filled for last 3 to 4 years. Therefore, it was
demanded that the
existing vacancies needs to be filled immediately. If
there is any
discrepancy of seniority in CM and also the senior
people are left out,
it can be considered for promoting through review DPC;
because of
discrepancy in seniority the total promotion should not
be delayed. OFB
agreed on 20.11.2017 and accordingly 1203 promotions
have been
effected/granted and the order has been issued on
21.11.2017. It was
further discussed that Electrical and Clothing
technology no promotions
were ordered to JWM. It was requested that they may also
be considered
for promotion in order to maintain parity which can be
adjusted in the
future vacancies of JWM. This was agreed to
reconsider.
12) GRANTING OF FIXATION OF PAY UNDER FR 22(a)
(i)(a)
In the absence of clarity after VII CPC for fixation
benefit on
promotion was not granted since DOP&T has issued
necessary orders
that provision of fixation of Pay under FR 22(a)(i)(a)
existing. It was
demanded that the provision of FR 22(a)(i)(a) for
granting fixation of
pay or promotion be implemented. OFB agreed to implement
the same.
13) DISPOSAL OF DISCIPLINARY CASES OF MCM AT
FACTORY LEVEL
After VI CPC those who have been granted Rs.4200/-
Grade Pay they were
classified as Group ‘B'. Though their appointments are
given by the
General Manager as appointing authority by their
disciplinary cases are
being dealt by OFB and disposal of their Disciplinary
cases are dealt by
Chariman OFB. Since the number of persons are quite
large and for
dealing large number of cases of OFB. Since the number
of persons are
quite large and for dealing large number of cases by OFB
takes lot of
time and delay of disposal of cases makes more time. It
was demanded by
INDWF, the Chairman OFB should delegate power to Sr.
General Manager /
General Manager as disciplinary authority to handle the
disciplinary
cases at Factory level.
14) Regarding the declaring
results of LDCE which was held in the year 2016 are not
yet released
because of pending Court Case at Madras CAT.
The case will be
expedited however OFB has clarified that to avoid
litigation in the
Direct Recruitment LDCE the answer key after examination
will be
declared in the public domain so that the candidates can
verify the
right answers and if any complaint is reported that
would be rectified
if found genuine. This practice is followed after this
exercise only the
results will be declared.
15) ACCUMULATION OF EARNED
LEAVE BEYOND 300 DAYS UPTO 315 FOR INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES
AT PAR WITH
NON-INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES AND NGO'S
It was
represented by
INDWF that accumulation of leave upto 300 days for
Industrial Employees
was agreed by Government of India and orders were issued
during November
2016. Whereas the disparity in respect of leave
accumulation upto 315
days after June of every year is not allowed. This may
be considered to
include 15 days beyond 300 between July and December.
This was agreed to
reconsider.
16) PAYMENT OF TIME WAGES (DOT) FOR PIECE
WORKERS FOR 3 ¼ HOURS
The payment of Time wages for Piece workers between 44
¾ and 48 hours (
3 ¼ Hours) on Saturdays which was paid till March 2006
was stopped
w.e.f. 01.04.2006. This needs to be restored justifying
the reasons for
payment of Time wages for Piece workers was submitted by
the Staff side
to JCM and was discussed. Two Sub-committees from
Official side was
formed, their reports are not in favour. Finance of OFB
refused to
recommend. Staff side jointly made a request; OFB should
discuss in the
Board meeting and may be forwarded to M of D despite
finance refused. It
was agreed by OFB to forward the proposal after duly
approved in the
Board meeting.
17) INCENTIVES FOR EXAMINERS
The issue of granting payment of incentive to Examiners
at par with
Maintenance workers i.e., 50% of the factory average who
recommended by
the Sub-committee of JCM III. The second part for
extending to other
employees is kept pending. Though the Board had agreed
for granting of
incentive to Examiners, OFB finance did not agree. It
was demanded to
refer to M of D for their approval. The same was agreed
by OFB.
18) FILLING UP OF VACANCIES AGAINST
COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENT QUOTA
Ordnance Factories are not filling the 5% of vacancies
in a Recruitment
year. It has been informed to OFB that many factories
are not filling
the compassionate appointments for the last few years.
The same was
agreed and OFB vide their letter No.039/(6)
Comp.Appt/Per/Policy Dt
29.11.2017 issued instructions to Sr.GMs/GMs directing
to make all out
efforts to fill up pending Compassionate appointment
vacancies at the
earliest.
19) TRANSFER POLICY OF GROUP ‘C' INDUSTRIAL
EMPLOYEES AND NON-INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES
Thousands of employees appointed in various factories
through Direct
Recruitment away from their hometown. They are making
claims and
approaching different levels politically and Trade
Union/Federations.
Very few are getting through but large numbers of
employees are denied.
The
issue was discussed in JCM III and a committee is
formed from official
side. The proposals submitted by Federation is under
consideration on
Transfer of the following methods.
- Compassionate grounds
- Transfer of the
employees whose spouse is working away from them
-
Mutual Transfers
- Public Transfer
etc
The
committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Rajveer Singh,
DDG/Co-ord, OFB
New Delhi office will submit the report and policy will
be finalised
and implemented.
20) SETTLEMENT OF TA/DA BILLS IN RESPECT OF
EMPLOYEES OF OF CHANDA
Large numbers of employees including Industrial
employees were deputed
on deputation to carry out Official/Factory work to
different places at
far of places including border areas. The bills produced
for stay and
food were not approved after lapse of 2-3 years by local
accounts for
want of VAT/Registration No and made recoveries of
advances with penal
interest. Many are retired employers. It is requested to
sanction the
bills based on the 5th CPC rates without production of
bills and settle
the cases. PC of A (Fys) were requested to issue
instructions to LAO to
settle the cases which was agreed to review and
settle.
21) CRITERIA FOR AFFIXING REVENUE
STAMP
After creating electronically generated bills and
payment made through
ECS, the revenue stamp affixing was dispersed. But,
whereas some
factories are insisting to affix revenue stamp beyond
Rs. 25000/-
and some factories are insisting beyond Rs. 5000/-. It
is requested PC
of A (Fys) to give the clarifications and instruction to
LAOs, OFB about
this issue.
Source: INDWF
