Productivity Linked Pay Hike to Deserving CG Employees

Productivity Linked Pay Hike to Deserving CG Employees

NJCA To Hold A Meeting On 3rd July 2018 - Improvement In Minimum Wage And Fitment Formula

7th Pay Commission Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula – NJCA to hold a meeting on 3.7.2018

National Joint Council of Action

4, State Entry Road, New Delhi-110055

No.NJCA/2018

Dated: June 8, 2018

All Members of the NJCA

Dear Comrades,

Sub: Holding of meeting of the NJCA

It has been decided to hold meeting of the National Council of Action (NJCA) on 3rd July, 2018 from 16.oo hrs, in JCM Office, 13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi

The following would be the issue of discussion:-

(i) To take stock of the current situation in regard to non-settled of major pending issues, viz. improvement in Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula.

(ii) No progress in respect of NPS Covered Central Government Employees.

(iii) Other pending issues related to National and Departmental Anomalies.

All of you are requested to make it convenient to attend the said meeting so as to take the consensus decision for future course of action in the prevalent scenario.

With Fraternal Greetings,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Convener

Source: Confederation

Karnataka COC - CG Should Increase Minimum Pay And Fitment Formula

Central Govt should increase Minimum Pay and Fitment formula – Karnataka COC

Revision of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula due to increased revenue collections of the Central Government

Comrades,

Today none of the 7th CPC related demands of Central Government Employees are settled. The assurance given by the Group of Ministers to the NJCA leaders regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is in paper even after a lapse of 20 months. Now the Finance Minister has replied in Parliament that “no change in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is at present under consideration”.

To avert the 11th July CG employees strike the Hon’ble Prime Minster had instructed the group of Hon’ble Ministers including Shri Rajnath Singhji, Hon’ble Home Minister, Shri Suresh Prabhuji , Hon’ble Railway Minister and Shri Arun Jaitelyji , Hon’ble Finance Minister to hold discussions with the Staff Side (JCM) on 30th June 2016 and the Shri Arun Jaitelyji , Hon’ble Finance Minister had published a written assurances in the Government website on 6th July 2016 leading to deferment of the strike .

Pay Commission Objective: It is the endeavour of every pay commission to ensure that the pay and allowances of employees should be ‘fair and reasonable’. The pay structure should also motivate the employees to reasonable levels of performance in the tasks assigned to them, so that the general public derive the benefit of their service as intended.

Our demand of revision of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is quite justified.

Comparison of earlier wage hike we can observe that the fitment factor of 2.57 times is the lowest comparing to other pay commissions. If we make a study of earlier pay commission.

Pay Commission	Year	Minimum wage ( old )	Minimum wage (revised)	Increase
2nd CPC	1959	Rs 55/-	Rs 80/-	1.45 times
3rd CPC	1973	Rs 80/-	Rs 196/-	2.45 times
4th CPC	1986	Rs 196/-	Rs 750/-	3.82 times
5th CPC	1996	Rs 750/-	Rs 2550/-	3.40 times
6th CPC*	2006	Rs 2550/-	Rs 7000/-	2.74 times
7th CPC *	2016	Rs 7000/-	Rs 18000/-	2.57 times

Comparative picture of pay of Central Government and State Government in regards to minimum wage as on 1.7.2017

Many of the State Governments are following the Central Government pay scales, but a few state Governments have improved upon the Central Government pay scales. The examples are as under:

Government Agency	Group “D” Basic pay in Rs	Add Skill 25% from Group “D” to Group “C”	Group “C” Basic Pay in Rs	DA %	Add DA Amount in  Rs	Basic Pay in Group “C” in Rs
Govt. of India		Nil	18000	5	900	18900
Andhra Pradesh &  Telangana	13000	3250	16250	24.1	3916	20166
Kerala	16500	4125	20625	14	2887	23512
Karnataka	17000	4250	21250	Nil		21250

The financial position of the Central Government is very good. Even the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has shown increase in last few years which is around 7% , the Indian economy is fastest growing and placed 7th in the world ( which is at 2,250.987 billions of $ ), comparing to wages paid in the world our wages are at lower level. The Government fiscal budget deficit equal to 3.50 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2016. Compared to 2008 where the fiscal deficit was at 7.8 %, but today the fiscal deficit is contained at 3.5%. This is also a healthy sign of the economic status of the Central Government financial status, the budget fiscal deficit is always below 4%.

Direct tax collections in 2017-18 at Rs 9.95 lakh crore, exceeded the revised budgetary target of Rs 9.8 lakh crore. Also, 6.84 crore income tax returns filed in the year against 5.43 crore in the previous year signalling a rise of 26 % . A net of 99.5 lakh new assesses were added to the tax net.

Net collection from corporate tax went up 17.1 per cent while that from personal income tax rose 18.9 %.

The revenue collection from Goods and Services Tax (GST) exceeded Rs 1 lakh crore in April 2018, GST revenue collected in April 2018 came at Rs 1,03,458 crore.

With the improved economic climate, introduction of e-way bill and improved GST compliance, GST collections would continue to show a positive trend.

The wage bill of the Central Government on in its employees is less than 10% or 3.4% of the GDP, which is less compared to various countries world wide .

Vacancy of the Central Government is about 15 % , more than 4 lakhs vacancies are existing in the Central Government the work load is being carried out by the existing employees. The Government being a model employer should pay for its employees and motivate them to work more for implementation of its policies.

Hence due to the improved revenue earning of the Central Government, as assured to the staff side JCM by the Group of Ministers in respect of increase of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula, the Central Government should increase the Minimum Pay and Fitment formula.

CONFEDERATION WRITES TO NJCA LEADERS

7th CPC Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor: Confederation writes to NJCA

CONFEDERATION WRITES TO NJCA LEADERS

Ref: Confdn/Genl/2016-19

Dated – 14.03.2018

To
1. Shri M. Raghavaiyya
Chairman,
National Joint Council of Action of JCM (NC) Staff Side organisations (NJCA) & General Secretary
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
Leader Staff side NC (JCM)
3, Chelmsford Road, New Delhi – 110055

2. Shri Shiv Gopal Misra
Convenor, NJCA & General Secretary
All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) & Secretary, Staff side,
National Council (Staff Side) JCM
13- C, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi – 110001

Dear Comrade,

As you may be aware the Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance, has given the following written reply in Parliament for a question asked to Minister of Finance, regarding our demand – “Increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula”.

Reply given by Minister of state for Finance:

“The minimum pay of Rs.18000/- p.m. and fitment factor of 2.57 are based on the specific recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission in the light of the relevant factors taken into account by it. Therefore, no change therein is at present under consideration”.

From the above it is crystal clear that Govt. has gone back from the assurance given on 30.06.2016 by Group of Ministers including Sri Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister and Shri Suresh Prabhan, then Railway Minister, that Minimum Pay and Fitment formula will be increased and for that purpose a High Level Committee will be appointed to submit report within four months.

Now that Govt. has gone back from its assurance, I on behalf of Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, which is a constituent organisation of NJCA, request you revive our deferred agitational programmes immediately and for that purpose, if necessary, an urgent meeting of the NJCA may be convened.

Awaiting response,

Yours fraternally,

(M. Krishnan)

Secretary General

Mob: 0944768125

Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Source: Confederation

Rajya Sabha Q&A - Increase in 7th CPC Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor

Increase in 7th CPC Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor – Rajya Sabha Q&A

INCREASE IN MINIMUM PAY AND FITMENT FACTOR

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1170

ANSWERED ON-06.03.2018

Increase in minimum pay and fitment factor

1170 . Shri Neeraj Shekhar

(a) whether Government is actively contemplating to increase minimum pay from Rs.18,000/- to Rs.21,000/- and fitment factor from 2.57 to 3, in view of resentment among Central Government employees over historically lowest increase in pay by 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC);

(b) if so, the details thereof and the date from which it would be implemented; and

(c ) if not, the reasons for the callous attitude of Government towards Government Employees?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE ( SHRI P RADHAKRISHNAN )

(a),(b)&(c ): The minimum pay of Rs.18,000/- p.m. and fitment factor of 2.57 are based on the specific recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission in the light of the relevant factors taken into account by it. Therefore, no change therein is at present under consideration.

Source: http://rajyasabha.nic.in/

7th Pay Commission Minimum Pay Comparison With Few States

7th Pay Commission Minimum Pay Calculation: Comparison of Methodology for calculation of minimum Pay of Central Government and a few State Governments as on 1/7/2017

Comparison of Minimum Pay

Comparison of Minimum Pay of Central Government and a few State Governments as on 1/7/2017.

Pay Commission Objective: It is the endeavour of every pay commission to ensure that the pay and allowances of employees should be ‘fair and reasonable’. The pay structure should also motivate the employees to reasonable levels of performance in the tasks assigned to them, so that the general public derive the benefit of their service as intended.

7th CPC of Central Government: The Central Government has been following the practice of pay revision for employees once in ten years. Pay scales of the Central government employees have been revised with effect from 1.1.2016 based on the report of the Seventh Central Pay Commission. The revised minimum pay effective from 01.01.2016 is 2.57 times the pre-revised basic pay. The minimum pay of the central employees has been worked out at Rs.18,000/- per month and represents a real increase of 14.29% of the pre-revised wages. The multiplication factor adopted for revising all the other scales ranges between 2.57 and 2.72 resulting in maximum pay of Rs.2,05,400 corresponding to the highest pre-revised pay scale other than the apex pay scale of Rs.80,000 which is raised to Rs.2,25,000. The Cabinet Secretary’s pay is fixed at Rs.2,50,000.

Employees Associations (Staff side JCM) have also sought minimum pay revision to Rs.26,000 with effect from 01.01.2016.

Pay Revision of various State Governments

Government of Kerala Pay Scales: The revised pay structure introduced by the Government of Kerala witheffect from 1.7.2014 is based on the recommendations of the 10th PayRevision Commission and relates to index level of 239.92 points ofAIACPI (IW). Basic Pay of Group “D” employee is fixed at Rs 16500/-

The rates of increment range from Rs.500 to Rs.2,400. The payment of DA formula is unaltered and continues to be as per the central government formula to neutralise the price rise over and above the 239.92 points twice in a year.

Andhra Pradesh Pay Scales: The revised pay structure formulated by Government of Andhra Pradeshon the basis of the recommendation of 10th Pay Revision Commissionrelates to index level of 220.61 points of AIACPI (IW), Basic Pay of Group “D” employee is fixed at Rs 13000/-

The HRA ranges from 30% to 12% of basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs.20,000 depending upon the classification of places and pay.

Karnataka Pay Scales: The revised pay structure formulated by Government of Karnataka on the basis of the recommendation of 6th Pay Revision Commission relates to index level of 276.9 of AIACPI (IW).

Costs of consumable items obtained from the Department of Economics & Statistics, Government of Karnataka are utilised for their calculation.

CLICK HERE FOR REPORT 

http://www.finance.kar.nic.in/6thPay/6thPayComReport.pdf

(For English version read from page number 135 on wards)

The 6th pay commission appointed by the Karnataka Government recommended a 30% increase in the salaries of around 5,20,000 government employees and 73,000 employees from “aided institutions”.

The revision of pay and pension is to come into effect from 1 July 2017 with benefits paid from 1 April 2018. The Group “D” minimum basic pay is fixed at Rs 17000/-.

Methodology for calculation of minimum wage adopted by Pay commissions both Central and State Pay Commissions

Central pay commissions as well as pay commissions in some states have adopted the approach of determining the minimum pay for employees based on the cost of a minimum acceptable standard of living for a household. This is calculated on the basis of the current prices of daily necessities like food, clothing, housing, etc., for a family of three consumption units typical in the case of young employees starting their careers in government. The normative consumption requirements of the family as adopted in the 15th Indian Labour Conference in 1957 are considered for this purpose. While the minimum pay is thus worked out on the basis of a set of quantitative norms and based on Dr. Wallace Aykroyd’s formula , the maximum pay for employees at the highest levels is to be determined as that required to attract and retain persons of qualifications and skills appropriate for the higher positions in government services.

Comparative picture of pay of Central Government and State Government in regards to minimum wage as on 1.7.2017

Govt. of India

Group “C” Min Basic Pay =Rs 18000/-

DA 5% = Rs 900/-

Total Basic Pay + DA =Rs 18900/-

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

Group “D” Min Basic Pay =Rs 13000/-

Provide for Skill by adding 25% =Rs 3250-

Total Group “C” Min Basic Pay = Rs 16250/-

DA @ 24.1% = 3916/-

Total Basic Pay + DA=Rs 20166/-

Kerala

Group “D” Min Basic Pay =Rs 16500/-

Provide for Skill by adding 25% Rs 4125/-

Total Group “C” Min Basic Pay =Rs 20625/-

DA @ 14% = 2887/-

Total Basic Pay + DA= Rs 23512/-

Karnataka

Group “D” Min Basic Pay = Rs 17000/-

Provide for Skill by adding 25% = Rs 4250-

Total Group “C” Min Basic Pay = Rs 21250/-

DA = NIL

Total Basic Pay + DA = Rs 21250 /-

Ratios between minimum and maximum pay

The existing ratios between minimum and maximum pay of the central government and the States is as follows:

Government of India 1 :12.5

Andhra Pradesh 1:8.527

Kerala 1 :7

Karnataka 1:8.86

The gap is highest in Central Government should be reduced ratios between minimum and maximum pay to 1: 8

Hence there is need for revision of minimum wage for Central Government employees and also fitment formula on the lines of the State Government Pay Commissions, the State Government economic conditions are not as good as the Central Government still the State Governments are paying more for their employees comparing it to the Central Government, in case of the 7th CPC the Central Government Employees got only 14.29% , the Group “A” and above officers of Central Government got more pay hike due to higher fitment formula of 2.72 . Thus injustice is done for Group “C” and Group “B”.

whereas the Karnataka State Government employees got 30% wage hike , Central Government Employees got only 14.29% wage hike , the uniform multiplication factor should be fixed for the Central Government employees and also Central Government Employees should also get 30% wage hike .

Source: www.karnatakacoc.blogspot.in

NC JCM Staff Side - Exemption Of Transport Allowance And Medical Reimbursement From Income Tax

Exemption of Transport Allowance and Medical Reimbursement from Income Tax – NC JCM Staff Side

National Council Staff Side Secretary writes to Finance Ministry regarding the exemption of Transport Allowance and Medical Reimbursement from Income Tax

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary

Ph: 23382286

National Council (Staff Side)

Joint Consultation, Machinery

For Central Government Employees

13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001

E.Mail : nc.jcm.np@gmail.com

No.NC/JCM/2018

Dated: February 2, 2018

Hon’ble Finance Minister,
Ministry of Finance,
(Government of India),
North Block,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,

Sub: General Budget 2018-19

We hope that, standard deduction, up to Rs.40,000 in the Budget (2018-19) announcement, was provided to give some relief to the salaried class, but at the same time, there is serious resentment in the salaried class in general and the Central Government Employees in particular because of non-enhancement of limit of the Income Tax.

We were hopeful that, in this budget, the Central Government would provide Income Tax exemption, if not Rupees Five Lakh, definitely Four Lakh, but nothing has been done, which has resulted in desperation in the Government Employees. Moreover, Education Cess has been increased from 3% to 4%, which will further put additional tax burden on the salaried class. In such a situation standard deduction given by the government will definitely not going to help to any salaried employees.

Not only the above, Transport Allowance and Medical Reimbursement, used to exempt earlier, have also been stopped in this budget, has given another blow to the salaried class.

Since there is all-round resentment in the salaried class, it would be in all appropriateness if the Income Tax Exemption is enhanced to minimum Rupees Four Lakh.

Sir, Government Employees are also very eagerly awaiting for improvement in the Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula as well as announcement of the Guaranteed Pension to the employees covered under the National Pension System(NPS). These also need to be given top priority to keep industrial peace among the Government Employees.

It is also requested that, Transport Allowance and Medical Reimbursement, almost exempted from the Income Tax, should also remain exempted from the Income Tax, to give some relief to the government employees in distress.

With Kind Regards

Sincerely yours

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Secretary(Staff Side)

National Council(JCM)

Source: NCJCM

Confederation - Increase In 7th CPC Minimum Pay And Fitment Factor

Increase in 7th CPC Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor – Confederation

“Increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula will not come under the purview of National Anomaly Committee”

IMPORTANT

LATEST POSITION REGARDING MINIMUM PAY AND FITMENT FORMULA

GOVT INFORMED STAFFSIDE NATIONAL COUNCIL JCM THAT INCREASE IN MINIMUM PAY AND FITMENT FORMULA WILL NOT COME UNDER ANOMALY COMMITTEE ITEM.

During the last 2 – 3 months both print and electronic media are continuously reporting that increase in 7th CPC Minimum Pay and Fitment Factor is under serious consideration of the Govt. and National Anomaly Committee will give its recommendation to Govt. and orders for increased Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula will be given effect from April 2018.

We are reproducing below a letter from Govt. dated 30.10.2017 addressed to Secretary, Staff Side , National Council JCM stating that the demand for increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula will not come under the purview of National Anomaly Committee.

Further Govt. has not yet constituted the HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE for increasing Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula as assured by the Group of Ministers including Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley on 30.06.2016. The so-called Senior Officers Committee has also not discussed this agenda even though staff Side has repeatedly demanded discussion and settlement as per the assurance given by Senior Cabinet Ministers.

Now 17 months are over. 32 lakhs Central Govt. Employees and 33 lakhs Pensioners are being continuously betrayed by the NDA Govt.

M. Krishnan 

Secretary General 

Confederation 

Mob. & Whats App: 09447068125

Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Click here to view – DOPT Letter – NC JCM

Source: Confederation

7th CPC Minimum wage and fitment formula hike issues – CoC Karnataka

7th CPC Minimum wage and fitment formula hike issues – CoC Karnataka

Minimum wage and fitment formula hike issues

There are various reports in the news media, print media & social media regarding the hike in the minimum wage of Central Government employees from the existing Rs 18,000/ – to Rs 21,000/ and fitment formula from 2.57 to 3.00, which shall be implemented from 1st January 2018. The same shall be announced in the National Anomaly Committee due on 9th of October.

Comrades , We cannot confirm this news, comrades we should concentrate on struggle path as the Confederation has given the series of programs , I hope the Government will implement the hike in minimum wage for CG employees and revise the fitment formula also from the existing 2.57 to 3.00 even though the Staff side JCM has demanded Rs 26,000/ as minimum wage and fitment formula of 3.56 , this hike should be from 1/1/2016 not 1/1/2018 as per media reports.

In fact the Central Government has to take the political decisions on the wage hike , in fact the group of ministers of the Central Government have agreed to raise the minimum wage for CG employees on 30th June 2016 . I hope the commitment of the union minsters shall be honoured now.

Secondly the economy of the country which was going very well during past three years has showed down ward trend in last one year as the GDP which was at 9.1 in 2015-16 has reduced to 5.7 in 2017-18 .The economic activity has to take place, it is also observed during the past one year, in spite of economic recessions, the Government revenue collection has increased considerably. To improve the economic activity of the country and increase the GDP the Central Government should spend its funds which is available with them .

If the Central Government increases the minimum wage and fitment formula for its employees, the Central Government employees gets back 40% of the wage increase through the Income Tax and GST . So hardly a Government servant is left out with 60% wage hike , here also he spends the amount credited to him , as such an economic activity is induced in the public which will help to create more demand and employment activity.

I hope the Central Government takes a political decisions on increase of minimum wage hike and fitment formula for more than one crore employees which will also benefit the public and the CG employees.

Issued by COC Karnataka

Quantification Of Need Based Minimum Wage And Revision To CG Employees

Need-Based Minimum Wage Formula – COC Karnataka

QUANTIFICATION OF NEED-BASED MINIMUM WAGE AND NEED FOR REVISION OF MINIMUM WAGE OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

The concept of the Need-Based Minimum Wage has evolved in India after Independence and owes its origin to the Directive Principles of the Indian Constitution and the welfare policy of the Government. Its acceptance in principle connotes a public effort at an institutional determination of wage rates particularly in the industrial sector of the economy. Unfortunately the computation of the need based minimum wage has become a controversial subject in the country. While the concept of what the need based minimum wage should cover is fairly clear and generally accepted by both the employer and employee, its actual assessment into monetary terms has raised endless disputes not alone by the employer.

NEED-BASED MINIMUM WAGE FORMULA:  Minimum wages for the average family will have to be based on requirements of food, clothing, housing and so on. Additional components of expenditure to cover for children’s education, medical treatment, recreation, festivals and ceremonies.

In a vast country such as ours, there are bound to be regional variations in these requirements owing to climatic conditions, food habits, etc. At the same time in order to ensure a degree of uniformity the Conference have adopted a certain norms. The food component carries the largest- proportion of the total cost of living in a working class family. The component’s significance is not only economic but human also. On food depends the health and efficiency of the worker, which is vital to the industrial production. After a protracted discussion the Conference adopted Dr. Aykroyd’s second dietary prescription of the adequate diet level, the other one being the optimum diet level. An optimum diet according to him, is one which ensures the functioning of the various life processes at their very best; whereas an adequate diet maintains these processes but not at their peak levels. The optimum diet would include more of vitamins and less of proteins in its caloric content, while the adequate diet would include more of proteins and less of vitamins.

The Committee on Fair Wages laid down that the standard working class family should be reckoned as one consisting of three consumption units, supported by a single male earner and including his wife and two children below the of age 14 The 15th Session of Indian Labour Conference approved that the wage should cover four categories of needs considered essential for the worker’s well being, viz. food, clothing, housing and miscellaneous. In calculating the minimum wage, the norms for the food category should be based on Dr. W.B. Aykroyd’s formula for an adequate and balanced diet. It thus came about that a wage linked to the needs was suggested as a desirable minimum.

Subsequently, when attempting to implement the recommendations of the conference, almost all the wage fixing authorities including the committees appointed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 have invariably faced difficulty in determining: (i) the calorific norm which should form the basis of the diet content (ii) the exact composition of the diet (iii) the qualities of the various items of diet and (iv) availabilities of food commodities consumed by the worker and his pattern of consumption. In this regard the first assault was launched by the II Central Pay Commission (1959), pertaining to the calorific norm as laid down by the 15th Indian Labour Conference. The Indian Labour Conference worked out the three-unit formula, the minimum wage is worked out taking into consideration the calorific value requirements of 2,700 each, certain length of cloth requirement, housing rental value, education and medical expenses etc.

CONCEPT OF LIVING WAGES: Concept of Living Wages It represents a standard of living which provides not merely for bare physical subsistence but for maintenance of health and decency, a measure of frugal comfort, including education of children, requirement of essential social needs and a measure of insurance against eh more important misfortunes including old age. This is the ideal wages and envisaged in Article 43 of Directive Principles in Part IV of the Constitution. I. L. O. Conventions also provide for living wages.

Living wages is the ideal wages and on the line as stipulated in Article 43 of our Constitution. Wage differentials are necessary part of wage structure if skill formation is to be motivated and productivity is to be achieved but at the same time it should be reasonable.

Hence it is relevant to quote the following observation made by the Kerala High Court in Association of Planters of Kerala v State of Kerala in this regard: “ A failure to fix or revise minimum wages was not only a statutory violation but is a breach of fundamental right enshrined in Art. 23 of the Constitution. A duty is cast upon the State by provisions of the Act and Article 23 to fix and revise the minimum rates of wages.

7th CPC REPORT PARA NO 4 HAS ALSO DEALT THE ISSUE OF A NEED-BASED MINIMUM WAGE TAKING INTO THE CONCEPT OF THE FOLLOWING.

a). normative family is taken to consist of a spouse and two children below the age of 14. With the husband assigned 1 unit, wife, 0.8 unit and two children, 0.6 units each, the minimum wage needs to address 3 consumption units;

b) . The food requirement per consumption unit is shown in the Annexure to this chapter. The specifications were derived from the recommendations of Dr. Wallace Aykroyd, the noted nutritionist, which stated that an average Indian adult engaged in moderate activity should, on a daily basis, consume 2,700 calories comprising 65 grams of protein and around 45-60 grams of fat. Dr Aykroyd had further pointed out that animal proteins, such as milk, eggs, fish, liver and meat, are biologically more efficient than vegetable proteins and suggested that they should form at least one-fifth of the total protein intake

c) The clothing requirements should be based on per capita consumption of 18 yards per annum, which gives 72 yards per annum (5.5 meters per month) for the average worker’s family. The 15th ILC also specified the associated consumption of detergents

d) The prescribed provision of Report of the Seventh CPC 63 Index 25 percent to cover education, recreation, ceremonies, festivals and medical expenses has been reduced to 15 percent.

THE THREE-UNIT BASED FORMULA ADOPTED BY THE PAY COMMISSIONS NEEDS A CHANGE TO SIX UNITS DUE TO FOLLOWING FACTORS : The three-unit based formula to fix minimum wages presently counts only four members of a family ie husband, wife and two children. It has no provision to count dependent parents, if any, or even if there are more than two children.

The three-unit formula gives the husband a full unit, wife 0.8 unit, and 0.6 units for each of the two children.

Now the trade unions and the employees associations are of the opinion that the three-unit system are not sufficient to decide minimum wages because the children continue to stay with the family for longer periods. The two children and wife should be accorded one single unit instead of 0.6 units,” also, marriageable age of a child has also increased and they should also be given full units, the gender equality should also be observed instead of 0.8 units it should be full unit for the spouse.

Hence should be revised to the four unit formula gives the husband a full unit, wife full unit, and full units for each of the two children.

After the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that dependent parents are to be taken care of by children, two more units should be added and the formula be based on six-unit formulae than three.

“The CrPC section 125 and Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act make it mandatory for an earning member to maintain his parents, failing which he/she may have to face penal consequences. Today, the average life span of a person has increased to 68.3 years compared to that of 41 years in 1957. Hence two additional units have to be added,”

So there is a need to hike number of units from three to six to calculate minimum wages.

OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING OUR WAGES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1) The 7th CPC has taken into consideration the 15% to cover education, recreation, ceremonies, festivals and medical expenses against 25% prescribed by the Supreme Court . Additional components of expenditure to cover for children’s education, medical treatment, recreation, festivals and ceremonies. This followed from the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Raptakos Brett Vs Workmencase of 1991 for determination of minimum wage of an industrial worker. The Supreme Court had prescribed this amount at 25 percent of the total minimum wage calculated from the first five components.

2) Secondly the prices of essential commodities for calculation of the minimum wage is always a debate , the price essential commodities by the using Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers maintained by Labour Bureau, Shimla and the retail prices are showing different rates , the retail prices of essential commodities are at higher end including that of state Government run co-operative society’s compared to the retail prices maintained by Labour Bureau, Shimla by more than 15%, that is the prices maintained by Labour Bureau, Shimla are lower by more than 15% compared to market prices , the CG employees are deprived of proper minimum wage by an extent of 25% . If proper retail prices are taken into account the minimum wage shall be more than Rs 26,000/- as on 1st Jan 2016.

THE PAYMENT OF WAGES ACT, 1936: The revision of payment of wages act, 1936 , the Government has raised the monetary limit of wages to Rs. 24000/- per month for the applicability of the Act by issuing the notification .This calculation of Rs 24,000/ is based on Dr. W.B. Aykroyd’s formula. This is done on the basis of figures of the Consumer Expenditure Survey published by the National Sample Survey Organization.

The payment of wages act, 1936 monetary limit of wages to Rs. 24000/- per month is for unskilled worker , if we add Rs 25% for skilled worker , it work out at Rs 30000/- for skilled worker which includes wages and allowances, at present the Central Government employees at the initial stage are paid Rs 23,000/- (Rs 18,000/ as minimum wage and Rs 5,000/ as allowances ), still there is gap of Rs 7,000/ , if the minimum wage of Central Government employees is re fixed at Rs 22,000/ then this gap shall be reduced.

The breakup of the Central Government employee’s salary is as follows.

Non Metro City
Minimum wage Rs 18,000/-
HRA Rs 1800/-
Transport allowances Rs 900/-
Children education allowances Rs 2250/-
Total Salary : Rs 22950/-

The Central Government employees are deprived of the actual minimum wage of Rs 26,000/-. Hence there is a need of revision of minimum wage from Rs 18,000/ as Central Government is a model employer.

Issued by COC Karnataka

Source: http://karnatakacoc.blogspot.in/