Joint Administrative Council of AMTUC and AMGEO lists demands
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 14 2023:
Listing its demands, the Joint Administrative Council of AllManipur Trade Unions' Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees' Organisation (AMGEO) has appealed to the State Government to release about Rs 600 crore retirement benefits.
Speaking to the media at the office complex of the Minor Irrigation Department at Lamphelpat today, the Joint Administrative Council's general secretary, Th Momocha Singh said there are around 45,000 pensioners and approximately 3,000 employees of different departments may retire in the month of January and February, 2023 .
While the Govt is yet to release the retirement benefits worth around Rs 600 crore of existing pensioners, the addition of another 3,000 pensioners is sure to burden the State, he added.
Further stating that the Govt is yet to address various grievances of employees in different Departments, Momocha said the JAC (Joint Administrative Council) has also been demanding extension of the existing service period of 60 years to 62 years for the employees.
Such an initiative may be beneficial in early settlement of the existing liabilities amounting to around Rs 600 crore towards payment of pensioner benefits.
Moreover, it may be helpful in minimizing the current as well as impending financial burden the State is expected to bear out of retirement on superannuation of employees, he said.
However, he said, the JAC strongly opposes the service extension of employees working in the Secretariat Services and other Departments beyond their date of retirement.
He also stated that the Govt should increase the DA/DR doses at par with Central Govt employees with effect from January 2023.The rate of DA/DR paid in December, 2022 to State Govt employees is just 28% of their basic pay.
However, DA/DR dose paid during the same period for Central Govt employees was 38%.As on date, the State employees are getting 10% less DA as compared with what Central Govt employees are getting, he said.
The JAC strongly appeals to the Government to scrap the New Pension System (NPS) and restore the Old Pension Scheme in the interest of the State Govt employees.
Further listing the JAC's demands, he said a meeting of the Minimum Wages Board for revision of rate of Casual and Muster Roll employees should be arranged at an early date.
The Govt should also roll out payment of all retirement benefits including leave salary to confirmed work charged employees of the Engineering Department.
Also, the Govt should expedite immediate payment of all pending GPF Final Payment of pensioners and advances of employees.
For bringing about efficacy and curb corrupt practices, a policy for inter transfer of Secretariat Service employees with their corresponding Departments may also be initiated. Medical reimbursement benefits should be extended to retired employees as is done in respect of MLA's/Ex-MLAs and their families.
And, all vacant sanctioned posts should be filled at the earliest, he said.