Saturday, February 18, 2023
Friday, February 17, 2023
JFROPS's (NJCA) Signature Campaign by ITEF, Odisha
Com. Chittaranjan Pattnaik, General Secretary, ITEF, Odisha leads the programme.
JFROPS's (NJCA) Signature Campaign by NFPE, Odisha
Com. Debabrata Mohanty, Deputy Secretary General, NFPE, CHQ joins the Signature Campaign Programme in Bhubaneswar
Com. Bruhaspati Samal, General Secretary, Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers, Odisha State CoC leads the programme.
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions (OSH), 2020 has special provision relating to employment of women
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, which provides for paid maternity leave to women workers and crèche facility by establishments being implemented
Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions (OSH), 2020 has special provision relating to employment of women
Posted On: 13 FEB 2023 6:25PM by PIB Delhi
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today informed that the Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, as amended vide the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, which, inter-alia, provides for paid maternity leave to women workers and crèche facility by establishments. Vide Section 5 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, as amended in 2017, the Government has increased paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks of which not more than eight weeks shall precede the date of expected delivery. Depending upon the nature of work assigned to a woman, the Section 5(5) of the Act provides for work from home for such period and on such conditions as the employer and the woman may mutually agree.
Shri Teli said that the Government has taken various steps to improve women’s participation in the labour force and quality of their employment. The Code on Social Security, 2020 has the provisions for enhancement of paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, provision for mandatory crèche facility in the establishments having 50 or more employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc.
In the written reply it was stated that the Code on Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions (OSH), 2020 has special provision relating to employment of women. As per this, women shall be entitled to be employed in all establishments for all types of work, with their consent, before 6 a.m. and beyond 7 p.m. subject to conditions relating to safety, holidays and working hours or any other conditions to be observed by the employer as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government.
Further, to enhance the employability of female workers, the Government is providing training to them through a network of Women Industrial Training institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional Vocational Training Institutes.
Monday, February 13, 2023
Thursday, February 9, 2023
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ନୂଆ-ପୁରୁଣା ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନା ଓ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତିବାଦ
ପ୍ରିୟ ସାଥୀଗଣ,
ଆପଣମାନେ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଅବଗତ ଯେ ଯେଉଁ ସମୟରେ ଜାତୀୟ ଯୁଗ୍ମ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରିଣୀ ପରିଷଦ ବା National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) ଅନ୍ତର୍ଭୁକ୍ତ ରେଳବାଇ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ସହ ସମସ୍ତ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ଓ ସମଗ୍ର ଭାରତ ବର୍ଷର ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ସହ ଶିକ୍ଷକମାନେ ନୂତନ ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନା ବାତିଲ ସହ ପୁରାତନ ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନାର ପୁନଃ ପ୍ରଚଳନ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ମିଳିତ ମଞ୍ଚ 'ଜଏଣ୍ଟ ଫୋରମ ଫର୍ ରେଷ୍ଟୋରେସନ ଅଫ୍ ଓଲ୍ଡ ପେନସନ ସ୍କିମ୍' (JFROPS) ଗଠିତ କରି ଜିଲ୍ଲା ସ୍ତରରୁ ସର୍ବଭାରତୀୟ ସ୍ତର ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସମସ୍ତ ଆନ୍ଦୋଳନାତ୍ମକ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମଗୁଡିକର ସଫଳ ରୁପାୟନ ପାଇଁ ଅଣ୍ଟା ଭିଡୁଛନ୍ତି, ସେହିଭଳି ଏକ ସ୍ପର୍ଶକାତର ମୂହୁର୍ତ୍ତରେ ପୁରାତନ ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନାର ପୁନଃ ପ୍ରଚଳନ ଏକ ନିର୍ବାଚନୀ ଚାଲ ଓ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଏକ ଆର୍ଥିକ ବୋଝ ଭାବେ ଅଭିହିତ କରି ଗଣମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପ୍ରଚାର ପ୍ରସାର ଚାଲିଛି। ଉଦାହରଣ ସ୍ୱରୁପ, ୨୩ ଜାନୁଆରୀ ୨୦୨୩ରେ ସମାଜରେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ନଳିନୀକାନ୍ତ ଧଳଙ୍କ ଲେଖା "ସାର୍ବଜନୀନ ପେନସନ ନୀତି ଆବଶ୍ୟକ" ଓ ୯ ଫେବୃୟାରୀ ୨୦୨୩ର ସମାଜ ସମ୍ପାଦକୀୟ 'ନୂଆ-ପୁରୁଣା ପେନସନ' ପୁରୁଣା ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନାର ପୁନଃପ୍ରଚଳନକୁ ନିରୁତ୍ସାହିତ କରୁଛି। ସମସ୍ତ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ତରଫରୁ ମୋର ପ୍ରତିବାଦ ରହୁଛି। କେତେବେଳେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ହେଉଛି ତ କେତେବେଳେ ନାହିଁ। ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କ ଅବଗତି ନିମନ୍ତେ ଗତକାଲିର ସମାଜ ସମ୍ପାଦକୀୟ, ମୋ ଲିଖିତ ପ୍ରତିବାଦ ଓ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ପ୍ରତିବାଦକୁ ପୋଷ୍ଟିଂ କରୁଛି।
ନୂତନ ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନାର ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଉଚ୍ଛେଦ ପାଇଁ ଉଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନଙ୍କର ମିଳିତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ, ଲେଖାଲେଖି ଓ ପ୍ରତିବାଦ ସମୂହକୁ ଆମରି ସ୍ତରରେ ସାମାଜିକ ଗଣମାଧ୍ୟମ ଜରିଆରେ ବହୁଳଭାବେ ପ୍ରସାରିତ କରି ଏକ ଜାଗରଣ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିବାକୁ ଯେତିକି ଆନ୍ତରିକତା ଲୋଡା, ତାହା ପରିଲକ୍ଷିତ ହେଉନାହିଁ। ଆଗକୁ ବହୁ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ କରିବାକୁ ଅଛି। ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କର ସହଯୋଗ ଏକାନ୍ତ କାମ୍ୟ।
ଲିଖିତ ପ୍ରତିବାଦ
ପୁରୁଣା ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନାର ପୁନଃ ପ୍ରଚଳନ ନିର୍ବାଚନୀ ଚାଲ ବା ଆର୍ଥିକ ବୋଝ ନୁହେଁ
ମହାଶୟ,
୯ ଫେବୃୟାରୀ ୨୦୨୩ର ସମ୍ପାଦକୀୟ 'ନୂଆ-ପୁରୁଣା ପେନସନ' ରେ ପେନସନ ସରକାରଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଏକ ଆର୍ଥିକ ବୋଝ ବୋଲି ଅଭିହିତ କଲାବେଳେ, ଡି ଏସ ନାକରା ବନାମ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାରଙ୍କ କେସରେ ପେନସନ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ମାନ୍ୟବର ଉଚ୍ଚତମ ନ୍ୟାୟାଳୟଙ୍କ ୧୭ ଡିସେମ୍ବର ୧୯୮୨ର ନିମ୍ନୋକ୍ତ ଐତିହାସିକ ରାୟକୁ ଅଣଦେଖା ହେଲା ଭଳି ଲାଗିଲା। "Pension is neither a bounty, nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer, nor an ex-gratia payment. It is a payment for the past services rendered. It is a social welfare measure rendering socio-economic justice to those who in the heyday of their life ceaselessly toiled for the employer on an assurance that in their old age they would not be left in the lurch".
ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟତଃ, ପୁରୁଣା ଯୋଜନାରେ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କର କୌଣସି ଦେୟ ନ ଥାଇ, ଶେଷ ଦରମାର ୫୦% ପେନସନ ଆକାରରେ ମିଳୁଥିଲା ବେଳେ ନୂତନ ଯୋଜନାରେ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ଦରମାର ୧୦ ପ୍ରତିଶତ ଓ ନିଯୁକ୍ତିଦାତାଙ୍କ ତରଫରୁ ୧୪ ପ୍ରତିଶତ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ମାସ ଭରଣା କରାଯାଉଥିଲେ ବି, ସର୍ବନିମ୍ନ ପେନସନର କୌଣସି ପ୍ରତିଶ୍ରୁତି ନ ଥାଇ ମାସିକ ପେନସନ ପାଖାପାଖି ୮%ରେ ସୀମିତ ରହୁଛି ଯାହା ପରିଣତ ବୟସରେ କୋଟି କୋଟି କର୍ମଚାରୀ ଓ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପରିବାରର ସାମାଜିକ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଉପରେ ଏକ ବିରାଟ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନବାଚୀ। ଆର୍ଥିକ ବୋଝ ଆଳରେ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କର ସାମ୍ବିଧାନିକ ଅଧିକାର କ୍ଷୁର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିବା ଆଦୌ ନ୍ୟାୟୋଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।
ତୃତୀୟତଃ, ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ପେନସନ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ ହିସାବକୁ ନେଲାବେଳେ, ପୁରୁଣା ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନାରେ ଜନ ପ୍ରତିନିଧିମାନେ ପାଉଥିବା ଏକାଧିକ ପେନସନ କିମ୍ବା କିଛି ମୁଷ୍ଟିମେୟ କର୍ପୋରେଟ ସଂସ୍ଥାକୁ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାର ଲକ୍ଷ ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି ଟଙ୍କା ଟିକସ ଓ ଋଣ ବାବଦରେ ଛାଡ କରିବା କଥା ଉପରେ ହିସାବ କଲେ, ବର୍ଷକୁ ଏ ବାବଦରେ ସରକାର ଟିକସ ଦାତାଙ୍କର ଯେତିକି ଅର୍ଥ ବରବାଦ କରୁଛନ୍ତି, କର୍ମଚାରୀଙ୍କ ପେନସନ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ ତାଠାରୁ ବହୁତ କମରେ ଭରଣା ହେଇ ପାରିବ।
ନୂତନ ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନା ନୀତିରେ କିଛିଟା ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଆସିବା ସହ ନିକଟ ଅତୀତରେ ରାଜସ୍ଥାନ, ଝାଡ଼ଖଣ୍ଡ, ଛତିଶଗଡ଼, ପଞ୍ଜାବ ଓ ହିମାଚଳ ପ୍ରଦେଶର ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରମାନେ ପୁରାତନ ପେନସନ ଯୋଜନାକୁ ଫେରିବା ପାଇଁ ଯେଉଁ ବିଜ୍ଞପ୍ତି ଜାରି କରିଛନ୍ତି, ତାହା କୌଣସି ନିର୍ବାଚନୀ ଚାଲ ନୁହେଁ, ବରଂ ୨୦୦୪ରୁ ରାଜ୍ୟ ସ୍ତରରୁ ସର୍ବଭାରତୀୟ ସ୍ତର ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସମସ୍ତ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ଓ ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନଙ୍କର ମିଳିତ ତଥା ନିରବଚ୍ଛିନ୍ନ ସଂଘର୍ଷର ଫଳ।
ସ୍ୱାଚ୍ଛତା ଓ ନିରପେକ୍ଷତା ପାଇଁ ଦୀର୍ଘ ୪୫ ବର୍ଷରୁ ଅଧିକ ସମୟ ଧରି ମୁଁ ସମାଜର ଏକ ନିୟମିତ ଗ୍ରାହକ ଓ ପାଠକ। ଆପଣଙ୍କ ସମ୍ପାଦକୀୟର ବିରୁଦ୍ଧାଚରଣ କରୁଥିଲେ ବି ଗଣମାଧ୍ୟମ, ସର୍ବୋପରି ସମାଜର ସ୍ୱଚ୍ଛତା ପ୍ରତିପାଦିତ ପାଇଁ, ମୋର ଏ ପ୍ରତିବାଦକୁ 'ସମାଜ'ରେ ସ୍ଥାନିତ କରିବେ ବୋଲି ଆଶା।
ବୃହସ୍ପତି ସାମଲ
ସାଧାରଣ ସମ୍ପାଦକ
କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ଓ ଶ୍ରମିକ ପରିସଂଘ
ଓଡିଶା ରାଜ୍ୟ ସମ୍ମନ୍ୱୟ ସମିତି, ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର
ମୋବାଇଲ ନଂ: ୯୪୩୭୦୨୨୬୬୯
ଇମେଲ:bsamalbbsr@gmail.com
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
NPS violates the fundamental right of an employee - Time to repeal NPS and restore OPS
Dear Comrades,
My article 'Time to repeal NPS and restore OPS published in the popular English Daily of Odisha 'The 'OrissaPost' on 09.02.2023. Thanks to the editorial team. It is similar in nature, but in a brief as published in the Kalinga Chronicle on 08.02.2023.
Trying my best to highlight the issue of NPS /OPS whatever possible on my personal effort. Request all your cooperation to spread it to the grass root level.
= Bruhaspati Samal =
General Secretary
Confederation Odisha CoC
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Time to repeal NPS and restore OPS
Time to repeal NPS and restore OPS
"Pension is neither a bounty, nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer, nor an ex-gratia payment”. – Hon’ble Supreme Court of India
Bruhaspati Samal
General Secretary
Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers
Odisha State Coordination Committee
Mobile: 9437022669, eMail: bsamalbbsr@gmail.com
While pension plans are facing challenges throughout the globe, 2022 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index Survey (MCGPI), inter alia observes that the objective of pension reform must be crystal clear and the prospective of all stakeholders must be addressed. Whether it is public pension system with their reliance on government finances or private pension plans invested in the financial markets, the retirement income systems should be able to meet the expectations of the communities. It is worth mentioning here that Mercer CFA Institute is a research centre based within Monash University’s Monash Business School, Australia which carries research works to assess the pension systems in various countries across the world based on three sub-indices, adequacy, sustainability and integrity. This year’s edition assessed pension systems in 44 countries which account for 65% of the global population. While Iceland topped the list with best pension system, India stood at 41st rank out of 44 countries in the Index with a declining score in sustainability and integrity.
Discussing the present position of pension system in India, we can amply say that in spite of serious protests and continuous struggles by all sections of employees of the Central and State Governments, the New Pension Scheme, now National Pension Scheme (NPS) was introduced since 1st January, 2004 as a part of the implementation of the new economic policy following the IMF-World Bank policy on pension reforms. The irony is that NPS was given effect from 01.01.2004 only with an Executive Order on 21.12.2003 and subsequently PFRDA Act was passed in 2013 in the Parliament and legally came into force with effect from 01.02.2014 through a Gazette Notification. Though, it was subsequently accepted by many State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings and Autonomous bodies, it failed to meet the expectations of the employees. Illustratively, after rendering 17.6 years of service in Defence Ordnance Factory with last basic Pay of Rs.56900/-, while Sri S. Sivasankaran is entitled for monthly pension of Rs. 28450/- plus Dearness Relief (DR) as admissible from time to time under Old Pension Scheme (OPS), he was eligible for Rs.4900/- only as monthly pension under NPS. Similarly one Sri R. Ramachandran when retired after serving for 13.5 years with a basic pay of Rs.30500, got monthly pension of Rs.2417/- under NPS instead of actual entitlement of Rs.15250/- plus DR under OPS. Such, examples are many to justify that the NPS has violated the socio-economic justice needed for the employee at the fag end of his life.
In this context, the historic judgement on 17th December, 1982 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in D S Nakra versus Union of India case needs a deep analysis which states, "Pension is neither a bounty, nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer, nor an ex-gratia payment. It is a payment for the past services rendered. It is a social welfare measure rendering socio-economic justice to those who in the heyday of their life ceaselessly toiled for the employer on an assurance that in their old age they would not be left in the lurch". According to the historic observation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, pension creates a vested right subject to CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 which are statutory in character since enacted in exercise of the power conferred under proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India. Thus introduction of NPS just through an Executive Order at the sweet will of the Govt. has not only violated the statutory provision guaranteed under Constitution of India, but also the historic decision of the Hon’ble Apex Court as above.
Moreover, NPS has also violated the written assurances given by the Govt. of India in the Standing Committee meeting of National Council, Joint Consultative Machinery held on 14.12.2007 which states inter alia, “For the employees who have entered with effect from 01.01.2004 are not likely to be worse off vis-a-vis the current pension system in force, as the replacement rate would match to the present one. Thus, NPS is a win-win situation for the employees and the Govt’. The above illustrations are abundantly clear how NPS contradicts the above assurance and goes against the fundamental right of an employee.
On the other hand, the OPS is a defined benefit scheme without any contribution from the employee and guaranteeing minimum pension of 50% of the last pay drawn subject to minimum of Rs.9000/- per month plus DR. There is also a benefit of getting a lump sum amount equivalent to 40% of the pension at the time of superannuation as the commutation value which is restored after 15 years. In addition, the pension amount is increased by 20% each 5 years starting at the age of 80 and doubling the pension amount at the age of 100 of the pensioner. There is neither such social security nor any guarantee of minimum pension under NPS. Even though the employee contributes 10% of his salary every month in addition to similar 14%contribution by the employer, the NPS beneficiary gets a meagre amount of monthly pension as illustrated above.
However, due to continuous struggle by all sections of employees of the Central and State Governments, though the some State Governments like Jharkhand, Rajastan, Chhatisgarh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have issued notifications to rollback to OPS, the Central Govt. is not yet ready to scrap out the NPS and thus the PFRDA Act, 2013 is still prevailing as the sword of Damocles. In addition, keeping the 2024 General Election in view, though many political parties like Congress, AAP and Left Political parties are now issuing Election Manifesto to accelerate their assurances for restoring OPS, the ruling NDA Govt. at Centre has no reaction. The entire working class was eagerly waiting for the Central Budget 2023-24 with much expectation for any positive declaration on minimum assured pension of Rs. 9000/- to all in the unorganized sector and to drop NPS restoring OPS. But nothing such came out in the said budget which has demoralized the employees and workers across the country. In addition, serious resentments amongst the employees are also mushrooming in the line that if NPS is so good, why the public representatives who are enjoying more than one pension not brought under NPS instead of OPS.
Thus, all the Central Govt. employees including Railway, Postal and Defence and the State Govt. employees including teachers have formed a Joint Forum for Restoration of OPS (JFROPS) under the banner of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) comprising Railway and Defence Federations, Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers including National Federation of Postal Employees, All India State Govt. Employees Federation (AISGEF), Teachers’ Federations and Paramilitary Pensioners’ Association conducting 3 joint meetings in a series in New Delhi on 8th December, 2022, 7th January and 21st January, 2023 with unanimous resolution to organize various agitational programmes throughout 2023 for the purpose. Apart from conducting National and State Level Conventions, submission of online petitions to the Hon’ble President of India, District and State level rallies including family members of the NPS beneficiaries, gate-meetings, Parliament march and Bharat Band etc will be there. A decision may also be taken by NJCA to adopt indefinite strike.
Now, it is high time for the Central Govt. to realize the pain and problems of the employees and workers along with the gravity of the series of agitational programmes as above and took it seriously to repeal NPS and restore OPS.
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