News Analysis India

Tag: Central government employees

  • Cabinet approves Dearness Allowance hike to 28% for central govt employees

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved an increase in Dearness Allowance (DS) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners.

    As per an official release, the increased DA and DR, which will come into effect from July 1, will be 28 per cent representing an increase of 11 per cent over the existing rate of 17 per cent of the Basic Pay/Pension.

    In view of the unprecedented situation which arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cabinet has also decided to freeze three additional instalments of DA to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief DR to pensioners, which were due from January 1, 2020, July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021.

    “Now, the government has decided to increase the Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners with effect from July 1 to 28 per cent representing an increase of 11 per cent over the existing rate of 17 per cent of the Basic Pay/Pension,” the release said

    The increase reflects the additional instalments arising on January 1, 20202, July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021. The rate of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief for the period January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, shall remain at 17 per cent,” it added.

  • Staggered working hours, limited attendance announced in central government offices amid COVID surge

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday announced guidelines for its employees, including staggered office hours and 50 per cent attendance of officers of the level of Under Secretary and below, in view of a surge in COVID-19 cases.

    All officers of the level of Deputy Secretary, equivalent and above are to attend office on a regular basis, a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said. It said that physical attendance of the officers of the level of Under Secretary or equivalent and below to be restricted to 50 per cent of the actual strength

    “Secretary/head of Department (HoD) may regulate the attendance of officials and may, on administrative grounds, direct more officials to attend office,” the statement said. The persons with disabilities and pregnant women employees may be exempted from attending office, but they shall continue to work from home, until further orders, it said.

    MoS (Personnel) Jitendra Singh said that the guidelines, which were issued in view of the unprecedented rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and to take measures to prevent its spread, “shall come into effect immediately and will remain in force until 30.04.2021 or further orders”.

    He hoped that all these instructions will be followed in letter and spirit in the interest of the well-being of all the citizens and government employees and their families. Singh expressed hope that the state/Union Territory governments will also contemplate on similar guidelines, according to the statement.

    The Personnel Ministry said that the officers/staff shall follow staggered timings — 9 AM to 5.30 PM, 9.30 AM to 6 PM and 10 AM to 6.30 PM — to avoid overcrowding in offices. “All officials who do not attend office on a particular day are to make themselves available on telephone and other electronic means of communication at all times from their residence and work from home,” it said.

    The statement said that all officials residing in containment zones shall continue to be exempted from coming to office till the containment zone is denotified. All officials who attend office shall strictly follow COVID-19-appropriate behaviour including wearing of mask, physical distancing, use of sanitiser and frequent hand washing with soap and water, it said.

    The Personnel Ministry said that crowding in lifts, staircases, corridors, common areas including refreshment kiosk and parking areas is to be strictly avoided.

    “The meetings, as far as possible, to be conducted through video-conferencing and entry of outside visitors to be curtailed appropriately. Proper cleaning and frequent sanitization of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces may be ensured,” the statement said.

    Biometric attendance shall continue to be suspended and physical attendance registers to be maintained until further orders, it said.

  • Centre asks all its employees aged 45 years and above to get themselves vaccinated

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday asked all its employees aged 45 years and above to get themselves vaccinated to effectively contain the spread of COVID-19.

    They are further advised to continue to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour even after vaccination by frequent washing of hands and sanitisation, wearing a mask or face cover and observing social distancing, etc., an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

    The government has been monitoring the situation very closely, and based on the strategy adopted for prioritising the groups for vaccination to contain the spread of COVlD-19, currently, all persons of the age of 45 years and above can participate in the vaccination exercise, it said.

    “In view of the above, all central government employees of the age of 45 years and above are advised to get themselves vaccinated so as to effectively contain the spread of COVID-19,” said the order issued to all the central government ministries and departments.

    The order comes amid an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in the country in the last few weeks.