Revision of Minimum Wage and
Multiplying Factor etc., – Assurance given by Senior Ministers-reg.
NFIR
National
Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3,
Chemlmsford Road, New Delhi – 110 055
No.IV/NJCA (N) 2014/Part III
Dated:
27/12/2016
Shri Narendra Modiji,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
South Block,
Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011
Respected Sir,
Sub: 7th CPC Report – Revision of
Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor etc., – Assurance given by Senior
Ministers-reg.
NFIR brings to your kind notice that
the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) – consisting JCM constituent
organizations of Central Government employees have deferred the Indefinite
Strike action on the assurance of Senior Cabinet Ministers on 30th June 2016
that a High Level Committee will be constituted to consider the demands of JCM
(Staff Side) within four months for improving the minimum wage and applying
revised multiplier factor for pay fixation in 7ft CPC Pay Matrices to the
Central Government employees which include over 1.3 million Railway employees.
Pursuant to the assurance of Group
of Ministers as mentioned above, the decision to go on indefinite strike by
Railway employees has been deferred, hoping that there shall be a negotiated
settlement on the Charter of demands already submitted to the Cabinet Secretary
by the JCM (Staff Side).
NFIR however expresses its deep
sense of disappointment over breach of commitment as more than five months
passed from the date of assurance given to the Leaders of JCM (Staff Side) by
the Group of Ministers (Hon’ble Finance Minister, Home Minister, Railway
Minister and Minister of State for Railways). The Railways specific issues on
which agreement was reached between the Railway Board and the Federations have
also not been implemented till date.
The Railway employees of all
categories are greatly disappointed over non-fulfillment of assurances,
consequently, there has been a feeling among Rail workforce that the Government
is not sensitive towards resolving their genuine grievances and equally not
sincere to honour its commitments.
NFIR also beings to your kind notice
that even though the successive Railway Ministers have sent proposals to
Finance Minister that Railways should be exempted from National Pension System
(NPS) in view of complexities, unique nature of working of Railway employees
and their arduous working conditions, the Government has not given its approval
till now, resultantly, the Railway employees who had joined from 01/01/2004 are
extremely agitated as there is no social security to them and their families in
the form of guaranteed pension at par with those appointed prior to 0110112004.
The unique nature of duties are comparable with Defence Forces Personnel. The
death rate of Railway employees in the course of performing duties is 700 per
annum and the average number of staff injured on duty is about 3000 per annum
as reported by the High Level Safety Review Committee headed by Dr. Anil
Kakodkar.
NFIR further brings to your kind
notice that the Indian Railways has the track record of dedicated working on
account of unquestionable loyalty, dedication and devotion of Railway employees
to Indian Railways. Most of them perform duties at remote places, jungle areas
where minimum living facilities are not available. It needs to be appreciated
that not a single man day was lost on employees’ account during the past four
decades.
NFIR, therefore, requests your kind
intervention in ensuring that the Government implements its commitments on
revision of minimum wage and multiplier factor for the Central Government
employees which include rail workforce. Federation also requests that other
issues which are pending before various Committees constituted by the
Government may be got finalized on the basis of submissions made by JCM (Staff
Side) before those Committees and also before the Cabinet Secretary. NFIR at
the same time requests to kindly arrange to issue appropriate directive for
solving Railways’ specific issues through negotiated settlement very soon. Also
kind attention of Hon’ble Prime Minister is invited to NFIR’s communication
vide letter of even number dated 0111112016 and subsequent reference by the PMO
to the Secretary, Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance) vide PMO ID
No. PMOPG//D1201610326695 dated04lIl12016, endorsing copy to the Federation, in
this regard.
With
regards,
(Dr.
M. Raghavaiah)
General
Secretary
Source : NFIR
