Imphal, December 10: The eight week old cease work strike of government employees spearheaded by the Joint Administrative Council (AMGEO and AMTUC) has finally ended following an agreement signed between representatives of the JAC and top government officials today.

The memorandum of understanding, MoU was signed early this afternoon at the office of the chief secretary, Manipur, Rakesh after around three hours of negotiations between the twp sides.

With the JAC apparently capitulating on its most important demand, namely the restoration of house rent allowance, the MoU specifies that the orders withholding HRA and TA will be valid till March 31, 2002, and HRA and TA will be restored in full from April 1, 2002.It may be mentioned that the state government has already issued orders in this regard on the first of this month.

The government has also agreed to restore full medical reimbursement in respect of certain serious ailments on the advice of state medical board with effect from January 1, 2002.it was further agreed that pending wages of work-charged and muster roll employees who have actually been working and whose appointments were made by the authorized competent authority of the departments upto November 30, 2001 will be released, subject to the approval of the Governor in council, encashment of which will be allowed as soon as the RBI ban is lifted.

All other demands raised by the JAC will be considered by the committee of officers constituted in association with the representatives of various organizations which will submit its report by April 15, 2002 to the government.

It was further agreed that the period during which the employees were on strike and not performing their duties will be adjusted against any kind of leave available in the account of each employees, and further that there shall be no victimization of striking employees.

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