Demand to implement 7th Pay : Govt, 3 employees' bodies strike deal
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 08 2018:
The Manipur Government Services Federation (MGSF), Manipur Secretariat Services Association (MSSA) and Manipur State Pensioners' Union (MSPU) have finally agreed to the State Government's proposal to implement the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission with respect to State Government employees and pensioners 'notionally' with effect from January 1, 2016 and 'actually' with effect from April 1, 2019.After two rounds of meeting held yesterday ended without any breakthrough, representatives of MGSF, MSSA and MSPU held another two rounds of meeting with Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu today and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
After the negotiating parties came to an agreement, they went to the Chief Minister's Secretariat and signed the MoU in front of the Chief Minister and some other Ministers.
According to the MoU, benefits of the 7th Pay Commission will be extended to the employees and pensioners of the State Government with the Fitment Factor of 2.57 notionally w.e.f January 1, 2016 and actually w.e.f April 1, 2019.The two sides agreed that the benefits of the 7th Pay Commission with the allowances at pre-revised rate (at actual amount paid as on today) would be deposited to GPF accounts for the period April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.It was also agreed that the 7th Pay benefits with revised allowances will be paid in cash with effect from April 1, 2020.The Government will address the problems faced by work charged, muster roll and casual employees sympathetically and settle them at the earliest, as per the agreement.
It further says that the MSSA, MGSF and MSPU have agreed to call off the ongoing agitation with immediate effect.
Notably, MGSF general secretary Purujit Leirikyengbam, MSSA president Ramrei Shinglai and MSPU president H Yaima Singh signed the agreement while Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu signed it on behalf of the State Government.
However, it is not yet clear when the Finance Department would issue an order for translation of the MoU into action.
Speaking to media persons after signing the MoU, Purujit Lairikyengbam remarked that it took a long time for the State Government to address the employees' demand for 7th Pay on account of the State's financial position.
To a question, Purujit said that it does not matter to them whether the State Government has the requisite fund or not.
Nonetheless, he pointed out that the State Government asked for a special financial package to the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister.
Moreover, most States have already implemented the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission, he said.
He went on to claim that the employees' grievances and anxiety have been largely lifted today.
Even though the MoU has been signed and MGSF, MSSA and MSPU have agreed to call off the ongoing agitation, there is no guarantee that the ongoing cease work strike would be suspended or called off totally as the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO which is one of the apex organisations of employees and pensioners has been left out of the negotiation process.
JAC secretary Laitonjam Biken said that they stayed away from the latest rounds of meeting with the Government as the Government refused to withdraw the warrant of arrest and show cause served to its office bearers.
The JAC also made it clear that they could not attend such meetings at short notice and there should be at least a gap of one day as its executive council members belong to different districts of the State, Biken said.
It is a matter of serious concern that the JAC was denied any opportunity to take part in the negotiation process even though it represents employees' unions of 105 Government offices/departments.
MGSF, MSSA and MSPU should come out with a convincing explanation regarding the conditions on which they signed the MoU else they should be held accountable for any untoward incident arising out of the ongoing agitation, Biken said.
He said that the JAC's action would be further intensified.
Meanwhile, the JAC has convened an emergency meeting of its executive council and core committee tomorrow.