Mandatory Hiring of Apprentices: Amendment in Apprentices Act, 1961

Mandatory Hiring of Apprentices: Amendment in Apprentices Act, 1961

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment

16-March-2015 14:23 IST

Mandatory Hiring of Apprentices

The Apprentices Act, 1961 has been amended and brought into effect from 22.12.2014. Before the said amendment of the Act, there was no provision to mandate establishments to hire at least 50 per cent of their apprentices for regular employment. After amendment, the Act provides every employer shall formulate its own policy for recruiting any apprentice who has completed the period of apprenticeship training in his establishment.

Several suggestions/ recommendations were received from Office of the Prime Minister’s National Council on Skill Development (PM’s NCSD), Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC), National Commission on Labour (NCL), Indian Labour Conference (ILC), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and other stakeholders to make changes in the Apprentices Act, 1961.

These were discussed in an Inter-Ministerial Group(IMG) having representatives from Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Micro Small Medium Enterprises, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Defence, Planning Commission, NSDA. The recommendations of IMG were discussed in the CAC-a tri-partite statutory body and simultaneously, these recommendations were also posted on web-site for inviting the comments of public at large. The amendments were carried out after considering suggestions from different stakeholders.

This was stated by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State(IC) for Labour and Employment in response to a written question in Lok Sabha today.

Meeting of National Council JCM (Staff Side) with 7th Pay Commission on 23, 24 March 2015

Meeting of National Council JCM (Staff Side) with 7th Pay Commission on 23, 24 March 2015

Meeting of 7th pay commission with NC JCM will be held for two days

The sources close to the 7th pay commission said, a Meeting of the National Council JCM (Staff Side) with the 7th Central Pay Commission has been scheduled to be held on two successive days ie on 23rd and 24th March 2015, at New Delhi.

The 7th pay commission held series of Meetings with various Associations, Ministries and Departments for the past 9 Months from June 2014

The Commission has had the occasion to interact with the National Council (Staff Side) and its constituents in May 2014. After it finished the series of Meetings held as scheduled with Associations and Ministries/Departments, the 7th pay commission invited National Council JCM to discuss the Major issues before it firms up its views. A meeting was held on 25 February 2015 with the National Council where it was agreed that the 7th Pay Commission would accord time to the National Council for their deposition before the Commission.

The Sources said that accordingly now the 7th pay commission has decided to allot two days for the Meeting with National Council JCM (Staff Side) on 23rd and 24th March 2015. Earlier the NCJCM has sought 7th pay commission to allot three days’ time slot to discuss the serving employee’s issues and one separate day for discussing Pensioners Issues.

Anyway, This will be a crucial meeting, as this may be considered as the last chance for the National council to know the views of seventh pay commission and put their demands on various issues pertaining to central government employees to convince the pay commission.

It is expected that the outcome of the Meeting will however reveal the matters of what can be considered in the recommendation of 7th pay commission.

Source: GServants.com

7CPC: Cabinet may approve 6% dearness allowance (DA) hike next week.

7CPC: Cabinet may approve 6% dearness allowance (DA) hike next week.

Cabinet may approve 6 percent DA hike next week

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet is likely to approve hiking dearness allowance (DA) to 113 per cent from existing 107 per cent benefiting 30 lakh central government employees and 50 lakh pensioners in its meeting scheduled in next week.

“The Union Cabinet will take a proposal to hike Dearness allowance for its employees and dearness relief for its pensioners to 113 per cent in next week as per agenda listed for the meeting,” a source said.
The hike in DA would be effective from the January 1 this year.

As per practice, the government uses Consumer Price Index- Industrial Workers ( CPI-IW) data of the past 12 months to arrive at a quantum for the purpose of any DA hike.

Thus, the CPI-IW from January 1 to December 31, 2014 would be used to take a final call on the matter.
The CPI (IW) of the months January, February, March, April, May, June and July were 237, 238, 239, 242, 244, 246 and 252 respectively.

The consumer price index -industrial workers (CPI-IW) remained stationery at 253 for last five months August to December, 2014.

“The average of the consumer price index -industrial workers (CPI-IW) from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 works out to be 6.3 per cent. Thus the Central government will hike dearness allowance for it employees by 6 per cent,” the source added.

However, the employees’ bodies are pressing hard to merger of 50 percent DA with basic pay but it has not been given heed by the seventh Pay Commission as well as the government.

The merger of 50 percent DA was discontinued in the Sixth Pay Commission but the Fifth Pay Commission had recommended that if the DA crosses more than 50 percent then it should be clubbed with the basic pay.

Source: Central Government News

Important Official Websites for Central Government Employees

Important Official Websites for Central Government Employees

1. DOPT’S Recent Orders
2. Financial Orders
3. Air Travel Orders
4. Allowances Orders
5. APAR Orders
6. Advances Orders
7. CGEGIS Orders
8. HRA/ HAA Orders
9. Leave Orders
10. LTC Orders
11. MACP Orders
12. Miscellaneous Orders
13. Pay Orders
14. Pension Orders
15. TA Orders
16. Transport Allowance Orders

Source: Central Government News

No Proposals To Increase Working Days To 6 Per Week

No Proposals To Increase Working Days To 6 Per Week: Centre

New Delhi: The central government today said it has no proposals to shift to six-day week working for its offices or reduce the retirement age of employees to 58 years.

“At present, there is no proposal to change working days for the Central government offices from five to six days a week or to reduce the retirement age of the Central government employees to 58 years,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

At present, the retirement age of the Central government employees is 60 years.

The Minister also said that the Seventh Pay Commission appointed in February 2014 is required to make its recommendations within 18 months from the date of its constitution. Former Supreme Court Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur is the Chairman of the Commission.

The government constitutes Pay Commission almost every ten years to revise the pay scales of its employees and often these are adopted by states after some modification.

The Sixth Pay Commission was implemented with effect from January 1, 2006.

PTI

7th Pay Commission: Rajya Sabha questions regarding Expected date of report & implementation and representative of security forces

7th Pay Commission: Rajya Sabha questions regarding Expected date of report & implementation and representative of security forces

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO  1380

ANSWERED ON  10.03.2015

Seventh Pay Commission

1380 Shri Narendra Kumar Kashyap

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) Whether Government has announced the Seventh Pay Commission for the Central Government employees;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) by when the Commission is likely to submit its report and the date from which it will be implemented;

(d) whether the representatives of the security forces have also been included in this Commission; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

(a) & (b) : The Government of India has appointed the Seventh Central Pay Commission comprising of the following vide Resolution dated 28th February, 2014:
(i) Shri Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur – Chairman
(ii) Shri Vivek Rae – Member (Full time)
(iii) Dr. Rathin Roy – Member (Part time)
(iv) Smt. Meena Agarwal, – Secretary

(c): In terms of the aforesaid Resolution dated 28.2.2014, the Commission is required to make its recommendations within 18 months from the date of its constitution.

(d) & (e). No Sir.

भारत सरकार

वित्त मंत्रालय

व्य्य विभाग

राज्य सभा

अतारांकित प्रश्न  संख्या: – 1380 

 मंगलवार, 10 मार्च, 2015/19 फाल्गुन, 1936 (शक)

सातवां वेतन आयोग 

1380. श्री नरेन्द्र  कुमार कश्य प: 
क्याा वित्त मंत्री यह बताने की कृपा करेंगे कि:
(क) क्या सरकार ने केन्द्र सरकार के कर्मचारियों के लिए सातवें वेतन आयोग की घोषणा की है; 
(ख) यदि हां, तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या है; 
(ग) आयोग द्वारा कब तक अपनी रिपोर्ट सौंपने की संभावना है और इसके किस तिथि से लागू होने की संभावना है; 
(घ) क्या इस आयोग में सुरक्षा बलों के प्रतिनिधियों को भी शामिल किया गया है; और 
(ङ) यदि हां, तो तत्संबंधी ब्यौरा क्या  है?

उत्तर

वित्त मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री जयंत सिन्हा)

(क) और (ख): भारत सरकार ने 28 फरवरी, 2014 के संकल्प के तहत सातवें केन्द्रीय वेतन आयोग का गठन कर दिया है जिसमें निम्नलिखित शामिल हैं:

(i)   न्यायमूर्ति श्री अशोक कुमार माथुर – अध्यक्ष
(ii) श्री विवेक राय – सदस्य (पूर्णकालिक)
(iii) डॉ. रथिन रॉय – सदस्य (अंशकालिक)
(iv) श्रीमती मीना अग्रवाल – सचिव
(ग): 28 फरवरी, 2014 के उपर्युक्त संकल्प के अनुसार, आयोग को अपने गठन की तारीख से 18 माह के अन्दर अपनी सिफारिशें देनी हैं। 
(घ) और (ङ): जी, नहीं। 

*****

NFIR: Retirement benefits of railway employees

NFIR: Retirement benefits of railway employees

Counting of services paid from contingencies with regular service for retirement benefits of raiiway employees who have put in such service – reg.

NFIR
Natiohal Federationf Indian Railwaymen

3, CHELMSFORD ROAD,
NEW DELHI – 1 10 055

Affiliated to :
Indian NationalTrade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (lTF)

No. Il/35/pt.11

Dated: 09/03/2015

Thc Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Counting of services paid from contingencies with regular service for retirement benefits of raiiway employees who have put in such service – reg.

Ref:
(i) NFIR’s PNM Item No.27/2011 & 3/2013.
(ii) Ministry of Railway’s OM No.E(NG)II/2014/CL/14 dated 25/11/2014 to the Secretary, Dop&T, North Block, NewDelhi.
(iii) NFIR’s letter No.II/35/Part.11 dated 07/01/2015.
(iv) Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & pensions, Dop&T oM No. Misc- 14017/6/2015 – Estt(RR), Dy. No. 1066914/15/CR dated 26/02/2015 addressed to Secretary, Railway Board, New Delhi & copy endorsed to the General Secretary, NFIR

The Secretary, DoP&T, North Block, New Delhi while enclosing copy of NFIR,s lefter No. II/35/Part. 11 dated 07/01/2015, has addressed letter to the secretary, Railway Board (OM dated 26/02/2015), wherein the Railway Ministry has been advised to send the proposal in accordance with the procedure laid down in Dop&T OM No. 2034/2/2010 – Estt. (D) dated 13th August, 2010.

Federation also desires to state that the issue was discussed in the NFIR’s PNM meeting held with the Railway Board on 19th/20th December, 2014 wherein the official Side while discussing PNM Itern No. 27/2011 & 3/2013 had stated that the subject matter has been referred to the DoP&T vide dated 25/11/2014 whose response was awaited. However the Dop&T’s OM dated 26/02/2015 reveals that the Railway Ministry has not sent proposal in the prescribed format. For ready reference copy of DoP&T OM dated 26/02/2015 is enclosed.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to kindly see that proper proposal is sent to the DoPT duly endorsing copy to the Federation. The matter may be treated as important in view of the fact that the PNM item is pending since four years.
DA/As above

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: http://www.nfirindia.org/

Ordnance Factories: Ministry of Defence

Ordnance Factories

Press Information Bureau Government of India
Ministry of Defence

13-March, 2015

Kelkar Committee had recommended that “Ordnance Factories should be corporatized into a single corporation under leadership of a competitive management. This corporation should be accorded the status of Navratna”.

The following steps have been taken by the Government on research and development initiative for innovation and import substitution in last one year:

• To avoid the delay in processing of R&D projects at Ordnance Factory Board Headquarters (OFBHQ), financial powers have been delegated to all levels.
• Factories have been given target to increase the expenditure on R&D activities to 3% of their turnover by the year 2018-19 in a phased manner.
• Factories are being encouraged to associate themselves with reputed Academic Institutes for Research Assistance.
• Core technologies have been identified for 12 Ordnance Factories to put in more focused efforts to cope up with Technology denial regime.
• Joint working on some of the large projects with Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) from the inception stage and to render manufacturing assistance, wherever required by DRDO is being encouraged.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Gaurav Gogoi and others in Lok Sabha today.

DM/NAMPI/HH/RAJ

PIB

Retirement Age: No Proposal To Raise for Central Government Employees

Retirement Age: No Proposal To Raise for Central Government Employees

There is no proposal to either raise or reduce the retirement age of central government employees from the present 60 years, Lok Sabha was informed today.

“No, madam,” Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in his reply to a question on whether government proposes to increase the retirement age of central government employees.

His reply was the same to another part of the question on whether there is a proposal to fix the retirement age at 58 years.

In the run up to the Delhi assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on two occasions scoffed at suggestions that his government planned to reduce the retirement age.

Terming it as a “misinformation campaign”, he had told the electorate that lies were being spread.

The speculation of hike in retirement age had been in circulation since the last days of the previous UPA II government.

PTI

Relaxation in minimum education qualification norms for recruitment of Sportspersons

Relaxation in minimum education qualification norms for recruitment of Sportspersons

Relaxation in minimum education qualification norms for recruitment of Sportspersons in Group-C

G.I., Ministry of Railways, Railway Board Letter No.2015/E(Sports)/4(1)/2/Educational Qualification, dated 10.3.2015

Sub : Relaxation in minimum education qualification norms for recruitment of sportspersons in Group-C against sports quota, both through Talent Scouting and Open Advertisement, against the Non-Technical Popular Categories.

Ref.: Railway Board’s letter No.E(NG)II/2-12/RR-1/16/Pt.A dated 17.12.2014 (RBE No- 145/2014).

In the aforesaid letter it has been stipulated that the minimum educational qualification for recruitment to the post of Office Clerk, Account Clerk, Ticket Collector, Commercial Clerk and Train Clerk under Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC), should be 12th (+2 Stage) pass or equivalent, with not less than 50% marks in the aggregate.

2. The question has been raised to whether in the case of sportsperson to be appointed against the post mentioned in pre-para, has to possess minimum of 50% marks in 12th (+2 Stage). The matter has been considered and it has been decided that for recruitment to said posts against sports quota, both through Talent Scouting and Open Advertisement, the candidate having minimum a pass certificate in 12th Class (+2 Stage) need not be insisted upon and candidates possessing a pass certificate in 12th class (+2 Stage), may also be considered for appointment, provided the other prescribed conditions are satisfied in their case.

3. This issues with approval of Board (MS).

Source: NFIR