DEMANDS OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: LOK SABHA Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 6670

ANSWERED ON 08.05.2013

DEMANDS OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

6670 . Shri RAKESH SINGH

Will the Minister of PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has considered various demands of the Central Government employees and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has held discussions with the Trade Unions and other organisations before the Nation wide strike;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government proposes to consider the demands in the interest of employees; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

(a): The Government has in operation a Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) scheme and as per the scheme of JCM, this Department deals with staff side on the National Council (JCM). The JCM scheme is for promoting harmonious relations and of securing the greatest measure of cooperation between the Government, in its capacity as employer and the general body of its employees in matters of common concern and deals with issues and demands raised by the staff side. Regular interactions are held at requisite levels to address the concerns of Government employees.

(b) & (c): A meeting was convened by Union Minister of Labour & Employment with the representatives of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) on the 13th February, 2013 to discuss the charter of demands and call for all India strike given by the Central Trade Unions on 20th and 21st February, 2013. Subsequently, a Group of Ministers (GoM) held a meeting with the representatives of the major CTUs on 18th February, 2013. The Union representatives were assured that Government is serious on the demands related to working class and taking all possible measures to redress them. An appeal was issued to them to withdraw the strike.

(d) & (e): Government has taken various measures to address the concerns raised by the trade unions. These relate to huge amount spent on food subsidy to ensure availability of food grains to the poor at very concessional rate through the Public Distribution System, the Food Security Bill to further increase the availability of subsidized food grains to the larger segments of the population. National Employment Policy has been prepared by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to ensure inclusive and equitable growth process, so as to achieve the goal of remunerative and decent employment for all women and men in the labour force. The Government has enacted Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 and has also set up Nation Social Security Fund (NSSF) with a corpus of Rs.1000 crore. National Social Security Board has also been constituted which is advising the Government from time to time on Social Security Schemes. Action to amend the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 is underway wherein it is, inter-alia, proposed that in case where the contract labour perform the same or similar kind of work as the workmen directly appointed by the principal employer, the wage rates, holidays, social security provisions of contract labour shall be the same as are available to the directly appointed workmen on the roll of principal employer. Further, a Bill is being brought before the Parliament to amend the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 to provide a National Floor Level Minimum Wage.

Source: Lok Sabha Q&A

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