7th Pay demand : JAC sets Oct 18 date for meet with CM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 08 2018:
Condemning the lack of any sort of positive action from the side of the State Government despite assurance given by the Chief Secretary during a meeting on August 30, the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO, which has been demanding the implementation of 7th Pay for State Government employees and pensioners, has urged the Chief Minister to make necessary arrangement for a meeting with the JAC before October 18.It may be mentioned that JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO has been spearheading a cease work strike since March 21 in connection with its demands and the cease work strike completed 202 days today.
Speaking to media persons at a location in Imphal today, the JAC secretary general Laitonjam Biken said that the JAC has been demanding the Government to accept its 22 point charter of demands, including implementation of 7th Pay in the State, payment of pending DR/DA, increasing the DA of Manipur Secretariat, Revenue Department (District Administration) and CAF&PD employees by 10 percent and establishment of a Manipur State Staff Selection Commission for recruitment of Group C employees, since a long time now.
Informing that the JAC met the Chief Secretary on August 30, Biken continued that during the said meeting, it was agreed to provide the fitment factor at 2.57 (as compared to the JAC's earlier demand of 3.68 fitment factor) and to pay the 7th Pay from January 1, 2016 with arrears.
However, as the matter needed a thorough discussion at the level of the Chief Minister, the JAC has been patiently waiting for an appointment with the Chief Minister, Biken conveyed and added that it is really unfortunate the State Government has failed to provide any opportunity for a meeting with the CM till date.
Pointing out that the JAC met the Chief Secretary informally today, Biken informed that the JAC pressured the State Government to make necessary arrangements for an appointment with the Chief Minister before October 18 .
If the Government fails to do so, then the Government employees of the State will launch a mass casual leave on October 1'9 and 20, Biken warned.
He explained that the DA/DR of State Government employees and pensioners is 20 percent (11 percent for 6th Pay component and 9 percent for 7th Pay) and added that compared to Central Government employees, the DA/DR of the State Government employees is lacking by around 20 percent.
Pointing out that salaries of Government employees are usually revised every 10 years, Biken informed that for Central Government employees, the rate was revised on January 1, 2016 and they began receiving 7th Pay benefits since then.
But the State Government employees are still getting the pay which was revised in 2006, he added.
Demanding the State Government to take up necessary measures to address the hardship of employees and pensioners, Biken added that the State Government will have to bear responsibility for any untoward incident or inconveniences caused to the people as a result of the two day mass casual leave.