JOINT FORUM OF TRADE UNIONS and ASSOCITIONS of PSGI Companies -DEMANDS DAY 29th July, 2015

JOINT FORUM OF TRADE UNIONS and ASSOCITIONS of PSGI Companies

Dear Comrades,                                                                                Date: 02.07.2015

Every one of you aware after the second round of talks held at Hyderabad on 3^rd March, 2015, there were no official communication or invitation from GIPSA on the impending wage revision and One more option for Pension under 1995 Scheme. In second round of talks, when we were offered 15% increase on wage bill, all the unions in one voice asked for improvement in the offer.  GIPSA assured to take up the matter further with Central Government and further informed we will be called immediately after settlement take place in Banking Industry.  In spite of settlements reached in Banking industry a month back, GIPSA has not kept up its promise.  

On our demand of Promotion Policy Amendments, GIPSA has concluded the same with some amendments after a discussion with Officers’ Association.  Still there are aberrations which need correction and further improvement.  In the case of Class III and IV employees in the meeting held on 27^th November, 2013, nearly one and half years back GIPSA assured to call us shortly with draft promotion policy.  Since then two exercises are over, but GIPSA is inactive on this issue.  Likewise there is a threat of job security to Development Officers. In the name non-performers, they are being sent out of the company.

All the Unions / Associations individually and jointly expressed their concern over the issue and demanded immediate negotiation on wage revision including PLLI, One more option for Pension under 1995 Pension Scheme, Implementation of New Pension Scheme (NPS) prospectively and Amendments / Improvements to Promotion Policy.  As no positive reaction is forthcoming from GIPSA, the representatives of all Trade Unions and Associations met yesterday, the 1^st July, 2015, at New Delhi to discuss and decide the course of action to make GIPSA and Government of India, to understand urgency of the situation and to call us for meaningful discussion.  After threadbare discussion Joint Forum decided to give following course of action to realize our demands:

            8^th July, 2015               -           Lunch hour Demonstration at all Centers

            15^th July, 2015             -           Lunch hour Demonstration at all Centers

            22^nd July, 2015            -           Lunch hour Demonstration at all Centers

            29^th July, 2015             -           Badge wearing

                                                            Submission of Memorandum to Office-in-charge

                                                            Lunch hour Demonstration at all Centers

            5^th August 2015          -           Dharna at Head Offices and Regional Centers

We call upon the employees and officers to implement the programme in toto and make them grand success.

We are hopeful GIPSA will understand the anger and expectations of the employees and invite us for discussion immediately.  Otherwise, Joint Forum has decided to meet again and chalk out future course of action including Strike.

With greetings,

Yours Comradely,

........

JFTU of PSGI Companies DEMANDS DAY 29th July, 2015          We demand ·         Immediate settlement of Wage Revision ·         One more option for Pension under 1995 Scheme ·         Amendments / Improvements to Promotion Policy   Joint Forum of Trade Unions / Associations of PSGI Companies

Shri. ________________________________,                                                                              July 29, 2015

Chairman-cum-Managing Director,

New India / National / Oriental / United India

Head Office, ___________________.

Dear Sir,

We the Employees and Officers of Public Sector General Insurance Industry, working in ______________________ Micro Office / Branch Office / Divisional Office / Regional Office / Head Office of ________________ Company, would like to submit our demands of Wage Revision is long pending, One more option for Pension under 1995 scheme has not been given with since last wage revision and Amendments / Improvements to Promotion Policy is overdue.  In spite of repeated appeals by our Trade Unions / Associations, GIPSA has not invited us for further discussion over these demands. 

Employees get agitated and frustrated over the non-care attitude of GIPSA.  Hence, we urge upon you, being One of the GIPSA Member Companies, to suitably take up with GIPSA and ask them to invite us for immediate discussion over the long pending issues to sort out amicably. 

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PROMOTIONAL EXERCISE - 2015

10^TH July, 2015

The General Manager (P)                                                                     The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.

Head Office.

Mumbai

  

 Dear Sir,

  

This is in  reference to the Promotion Exercise 2015 for promotion to the Cadre of Scale I  issued by CORP.- HRM under reference : Corp/HRM/PROM/CL. III-IV /SNN/2015  dt 3^rd. July -2015. In this  respect   we have came across  circulars of other 3 PSGI  companies  on the same subject- matter for the current year  where in there is some  relaxations  in regard to ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA  as stated in the point No.4 &  5  of   the Circular of National Insurance CO. Ltd.

  We are sending as attachment circular of 3 PSGI Companies  on this subject for your perusal. This point should be clearly stated in the New India Assurance Co’s  circular also.  Trust , you will go through the said circulars and immediately take necessary step to effect  similar changes in Promotional Exercise 2015 and inform all concerned  accordingly. As this is very sensitive matter and considering urgency your early action is very much solicited.

 Please find attachment of other 3 PSGI companies on the same issue.

  

Thanking You,

Yours faithfully,

 Sd/- xx xx xx,

SUJIT  BAGCHI

GENERAL SECRETARY

NFGIE

COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENTS

10.07.2015

To

The Chairman cum Managing Director

The New India Assurance Co.Ltd.

The New India Assurance Building

87,M.G.Road, Fort

Mumbai - 400001

 Dear Sir

  I am drawing your kind attention to the two issues concerning the well- being of the employees which need your immediate intervention.  The issue of Implementation of Company’s scheme of Appointment on Compassionate Ground. I am at much pain to point out that though the Circular in this regard has been published In November 2014 still not a single case of Compassionate Ground Appointment has been cleared. It may be stated that many cases from all over India are pending and applicants are passing very hard pressed days.  I request your immediate intervention   in this matter.

The other issue which requires your intervention is clearance of all pending application for Transfer on Spouse ground from all over the country. It is very disheartening that applications for transfer on Spouse Ground are being kept pending and in spite of repeated persuasion at the   Corporate H.R. level, no result is forthcoming.

We await your personal intervention in the above mention matters.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully

 Sd/- xx xx xx,

(SUJIT BAGCHI)

GENERAL SECRETARY

NGIE

AGITATION FOR EARLY WAGE SETTLEMENT TO EMPLOYEES' OF GIPSA COMPANIES - BY JOINT FORUM -2015

DATE: 08.07.2015

Sri Sujit Bagchi
General Secretary
NFGIE

Dear Sir,

As per Call given by you under JAC, today we have conducted lunch hour demonstrations at United Insurance Regional Office, Hyderabad as well as New India Assurance, Vijayawada under AP State.   Our State Working President and Organising Secretary of NFGIE, Mr. P S Bajpai addressed the gathering and  reiterate the need of agitation to get good wage pack and also pension option.  The response is very very good and participants from our New India is very high. 

A Joint memorandum signed by all the General Secretaries.

This is for your information.

टी. ग़ोपाला कृष्णा 
T.Gopala Krishna
General Secretary

Amendments in Promotion Policy for Class III & IV - SUGGESTIONS RECEIEIVED FROM GICEU-SOUTHERN ZONE

THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO GENEL. SECRETARY, NFGIE AND SECRETAY IN-CHARGES FOR CLASS-I, III & IV AT HO, MUMBAI TO DISCUSS WITH HO MANAGEMENT & GIPSA:

With the announcement of 13.1 & 13.2 vacancies the Promotion excercise for Class III & IV employees has started.  At this juncture, the employee centred proactive changes in the promotion policy for Class III & IV employees are imminent and ought to be applicable for this exercise itself.  Even though all the trade unions are discussing the same, the changes we seek are yet to be implemented.  The recent letter of our Gen. Secy. on this aspect is to be mentioned.  

1) First and foremost, the confusion on recognising a course like MBA secured thro' Open Universities created last year should not find a place in this exercise.  The rules for recognising Graduation obtained thro' Open Universities without passing 10+2 model or M.A. obtained thro' Open Universities without passing 10+2+3 model are to be clearly spelt without any ambiguity.

2) The eligibility % of marks for Class I employees are 35% only (31.5% for SC/ST employees) for passing the promotion examination whereas it is 50% marks in individual subjects and aggregate 60% marks for Genl. category employees (40% & 50% respectively in the case of SC/ST employees).  Why this disparity?  A uniform criteria should be the order of the day. 

3) As in the case of Class I employees, contingency list should be reintroduced.  Reserve list may also be introduced.

4) As in the case of Sub-staff, Driver, RCs, RUNNING SCALE for Assistants and Senior Assistants ought to be implemented.

5) One time promotion for Assistants:  The eligibility criteria should be changed as 20 yrs. of service and 50 yrs. of age. Furthermore, there should be a fitment benefit of at least one increment on promotion to employees in the stagnation levels by suitably changing the fitment formula.

6) There should be no limit for the number of attempts in 13.2 examination.  Furthermore, once an employee passed the 13.2 examination there should be no necessity for further appearance if the employee wishes. 

Kindly take up the matter with our HO so that the amendments are given effect from this promotion exercise.

Wage Revision and Pension Option – Programme of Agitation

JOINT FORUM OF UNIONS and ASSOCIATIONS of PSGI Companies

                                                                                                  Date: 06.07.2015

To

All Officers and Employees of PSGI Companies,

Dear Comrades/Friends,

Re: Wage Revision and Pension Option – Programme of Agitation

As you are aware after the third round of talks held at Hyderabad on 3^rd March, 2015, there is no communication / invitation from GIPSA on the impending Wage Revision and One more Option for Pension under 1995 Scheme.  In third round of talks, all the unions in one voice asked for further improvement in the offer of 15% increase on Wage Bill.  GIPSA assured us to take up the matter with Central Government and to call us immediately. But we still await any communication from GIPSA on Wage Negotiation.

On Promotion Policy Amendments, GIPSA has made certain amendments in the Promotion Policy for Officers some of which have been implemented arbitrarily which need correction and further improvement.  In the case of Class III and IV employees two rounds of discussions took place i.e. 27^th November, 2013 and 8^th August, 2014.   Since then, two exercises are over, but GIPSA has not done anything on this issue.  Likewise there is a threat on job security to Development Officers as in the name of non-performers, they are being sent out of the company.

All the Unions / Associations individually and jointly have time and again expressed their concern over these issues and demanded immediate negotiation on wage revision including PLIS, One more Option for Pension under 1995 Pension Scheme and Amendments / Improvements to Promotion Policy. The representatives of all Trade Unions and Associations in PSGI industry met on 1^st July, 2015, at New Delhi to take stock of the situation and finalise future course of action to make GIPSA and Government of India to understand the urgency of the issues and call us for meaningful discussions.  After threadbare discussion Joint Forum decided to give following course of action to put pressure on GIPSA and Central Govt. in order to realise our demands:

            8^th July, 2015               -           Lunch hour Demonstration at all Centers

            15^th July, 2015             -           Lunch hour Demonstration at all Centers

            22^nd July, 2015            -           Lunch hour Demonstration at all Centers

            29^th July, 2015             -           Badge wearing,  Submission of Memorandum to Office-in-                                                                  charge,  Lunch hour Demonstration at all Centers

            5^th August 2015          -           Dharna at Head Offices and Regional Centers

  

We call upon the employees and officers to implement the programme in toto and make it a grand success.

  

We are sure that GIPSA will understand the anger and expectations of the employees/officers and invite us for discussion immediately.  In case GIPSA does not take favourable steps, we shall have no option but to intensify our agitation which shall be finalized in the next meeting. 

With greetings,

                                                            Yours Comradely,

    (P.Dharamthok)         (Samar Jit Banerjee)        (Sujit Bagchi)               (K.V.V.S.N.Raju)

General Secretary          General Secretary       General Secretary                    Secretary

       GIEAIA                       GIOAIA                        NFGIE               Standing Committee(GI)

                                                                                                                           AIIEA         

  

 (Rajib Bannerjee)               (S.Balan)             (Girish Khurana)              (Mohan Kumar)   

General Secretary        General Secretary       General Secretary           General Secretary

        NICOA                      NIAOA                       OICOA                            UIIOA

                                                (Sharad Jadhav)          (S.Vasudevan)          (                     )

 Secretary General                         President            General Secretary     General Secretary

       NCGIOA                                 BVKS                    AIGIFWA                   GIDOA

23.06.2015

To

The Chairman cum Managing Director

The New India Assurance Co.Ltd.

The New India Assurance Building

87,M.G.Road, Fort

Mumbai - 400001

 Dear Sir,

You may be aware, under the stewardship of former Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Company, the management of the New India Assurance Co. Ltd under the garb of the Company’s CDA Rules terminated 7 leaders of NFGIE from services of the Company and imposed heavy penalty by way of reduction in pay-scale on 7 other leaders in 2009 for an unfortunate and untoward incident, which took place on 9^th October 2007. It may be stated that CDA Rules was specifically amended to initiate the Inquiry Proceedings against the NFGIE leadership. Ultimately, after passing through the ordeal of Appeal and Memorial as provided in the CDA Rules of the Company 6 leaders of NFGIE including its General Secretary, Mr. M. Karthikeyan were terminated. However, out of those terminated only one was reinstated with heavy penalty. It may further be stated that some marginal relief also was granted to others who were previously reinstated in the service with reduction in pay scale.

Sir, you will surely agree that since 2009 said NFGIE officials are going through a harrowing phase of life. Financially and mentally they are totally devastated and their present state of things is beyond description. An eminent personality of your stature can easily imagine the magnitude of sufferings of those victims who have been maintaining their livelihood under severe pecuniary hardship. In the past, the leaders have expressed in clear terms that they were victim of the situation and in fact our the then General Secretary, Mr.M. Karthikeyan also tried his best to prevent the unfortunate incident.

Interestingly, the charges framed, by the Disciplinary Authority in respect of the incident in question as also the police( case No.82/PN/2008-criminal Writ Petition No 4878of 2014- High Court Bombay) are very much identical - set of facts and evidences are similar too. As we learnt, after due process of criminal trial, Hon’ble High court has been pleased to acquit the petitioners of all charges leveled vide its Order dt.18.3.2015.

Upon critical analysis of the criminal case, it is amply established that the alleged guilt against the petitioners remains to be proved beyond reasonable doubt, which led to their acquittal after regular trial with Hon’ble High Court findings that the charges are not proved.  In this backdrop, it would be totally unjust and improper to stand rigidly by the penal action imposed by the Disciplinary Authority.

  

We, therefore, urge upon you to be prudent enough to set aside the order passed by the Disciplinary Authority removing the concerned functionary/ employee, namely Mr. V. R. JADHAV from service of the Company and at the same time effect his reinstatement in service and also provide appropriate relief to the other petitioners of the said criminal Writ Petition No. 4878 of 2014 - Bombay High Court   who are reinstated in the service but with heavy dose of varied degree of reduction in pay scale.

This is a humble appeal to your benevolence to sympathize with fellow brethren who are virtually passing their days under severe financial crunch and untold misery.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/- xxx xx  xx,

Sujit Baghchi

GENERAL SECRETARY

NFGIE

FORMATION OF RECRUITMENT CELL IN "NEW INDIA"

23.06.2015

To

The GENERAL MANAGER(HRM)

The New India Assurance Co.Ltd.

The New India Assurance Building

87,M.G.Road, Fort

Mumbai - 400001

Dear Sir,

 It is   highly appreciable for the endeavour on the part of New India Management to initiate the process of recruitment for the past few years. Needless to add that during all these years HRM Deptt. of HO: HRM has done a yeomen service  in carrying out the entire operation in a desirable manner. Similarly HRM Deptts. of all RO deserve thanks on the same account.

It may not be out of context to suggest  keeping in mind the need to carry on this process of recruitment in the coming years also, a ‘ Recruitment  Cell’    solely dedicated to undertake all jobs related to the recruitment in all classes be formed at the earliest at HO level to start with. It is expected that this will lessen the burden on the HRM who are very hard-pressed now-a- days for carrying out the jobs related with recruitment in addition to normal functioning of HRM.  I trust you are well aware of functioning of such Recruitment Cell in all premier Institutions in public sector companies.

I hope management of the New India at the highest level will deliberate upon this suggestion and do the needful.

 Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/- xx xx xx,

SUJIT BAGCHI

General Secretary

NFGIE

IRDAI plans massive changes in health insurance

IRDAI has said there could be higher solvency requirement for group health segment.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is planning massive changes in health insurance policies, according to a media report. Among the changes include offering more incentives for healthy policy holders and a level playing field for life and non-life insurers, the report added. In its draft norms on health insurance, IRDAI has said there could be higher solvency requirement for group health segment. The insurance regulator has already shared these draft norms on health insurance with companies. Insurers will also be able to reward customers who maintain a good level of fitness with better insurance rates. Although these norms are at a draft stage, IRDAI will finalise it in the next few months after which it will be implemented, the report further said.

...source iins

Service tax hike to hit your insurance policy

In the case of a term insurance plan, the new tax rate will be 14% compared with the old rate of 12.36%, which would means a substantial outgo. 

Your insurer may not have told you, but your insurance premium has just gone up following the the recent hike in service tax. With effect from June 1, the service tax rate has gone up to 3.50% against the old rate of 3% in case of traditional plan in the first year, which will then fall to 1.75% in the subsequent years compared with the old rate 1.50%.   In the case of a term insurance plan, the new tax rate will be 14% compared with the old rate of 12.36%, which would means a substantial outgo.   The service tax rates have gone up across several services from June 1 as per the announcement in the Union budget. The service tax rate, which was 12.36% earlier, has now risen to 14%, making several key services costlier for us.    Accordingly if your mobile phone bill is Rs 1,000 which used to balloon to Rs 1,124 earlier after service tax will now go up to Rs 1,140 after the revision.   In the insurance sector, the service tax hike will directly impact the premium amount you pay for an insurance policy. So, it is better you do the math and work out the revised premium amount much ahead so that you can plan better and set aside or save for the premium accordingly.   The increase in service tax will also reduce the overall return in case of traditional insurance plans, which are a combination of insurance cover and savings. Some estimates show the annual returns of a traditional plan will now come down to below 6% per annum.    Insurance plans came under service tax some four years back, but back then it was only 1%, which has since gone up to reach 3.50%.   The service tax has been expanded to cover a whole host of charges, including insurance policy administration and allocation charges, mortality charge and fund management charges on ULIPs by some private insurers.   Some insurers say the service tax hike will not impact the annual premium in the case of ULIPs or unit-linked insurance plans, but it will result in lower units for ULIPs as the tax will be adjusted by deducting the equivalent units from the account or by levying the same on the investment fund held on your behalf.
......source iins

New India Assurance settles 4,443 claims after J&K floods

MUMBAI: India's largest non-life insurer New India Assurance received 4,505 claims after J&K floods, of which it has already settled 4,443 claims, which amounted to Rs 212.34 crore, a senior official said here today. "After Jammu & Kashmir floods in September 2014, we at New India Assurance received 4,505 claims, out of which settled 4,443 claims amounting to Rs 212.34 crore. Still, 62 J&K flood claims are pending with us whose value stands at Rs 212.34 crore. Still, 62 J&K flood claims are pending with us whose value stands at Rs 6.19 crore.       Most of these claims are either under dispute or without proper documentation," New India Assurance General Manager Rafi Ahmad told. 
In the case of Cyclone Hudhud which had devastated Visakhapatnam and its surrounding areas in October 2014, 1,264 claims had been reported, with total claim amount valued at Rs 739.21 crore. Out of these, 882 claims have been fully settled with payment of Rs 70 crore, while 110 claims have been partly settled with payment of Rs 220 crore, he said.  "We are yet to settle 46 claims in the case of Cyclone Hudhud, with a claim amount at Rs 449 crore. A total of 226 'no claims' were reported in Cyclone Hudhud," he said.
 "No claims" are those claims which have already been settled and have been reported repeatedly. While Vizag Steel Plant claimed Rs 400 crore, the claim by Coromandel Cement after Cyclone Hudhud was Rs 140 crore.             "We have partly settled these claims in the cases of both Vizag Steel Plant and Coromandel Cement," he said. 

General insurance premium collections up by 12.3% until May

 India's general insurance sector reported a 12.3 per cent growth in gross premium collection at Rs 16,326 crore for the first two months of the fiscal, as per released by the General Insurance Council (GIC) today.    Four state-run general insurers recorded a 11 per cent growth in premium to Rs 8,567 crore in the first two months of the fiscal till May 31, it said. These companies also expanded their market share to 54 per cent, it said.  Seventeen private sector general insurers, excluding the five specialized health insurers, have grown their top line by 11.7 per cent to Rs 6,948 crore, it said.    "The May figures for the industry, showing 12 per cent growth is looking good. First two months are promising. June is also likely to be positive driven by the revival of industrial growth. We are likely to witness a positive growth for the month of June too," GIC Secretary General R Chandrasekaran told PTI.    Five specialized health insurers have maintained their high pace of growth at Rs 500 crore, up by 47.5 per cent until May.  With premium collection of Rs 3,340 crore, private sector companies in the motor insurance space beat public sector companies, which collected Rs 3,096 crore. The private sector has been the preferred option for motor cover under the damage segment, while the public sector insurers have become the preferred choice for third party cover, which has been made mandatory by the regulator, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.   In marine cargo too, private sector general insurers have mobilized higher premium at Rs 315 crore than their peers in the public sector which collected a premium of Rs 233 crore until May, the data showed. 

WAGE REVISION : JOINT FRONT - AGITATIONAL PROGRAMME IN L.I.C.

A joint call has been given by unions to observe following programmes of agitation to press the (LIC) management for early settlement of a reasonable wage-revision and allied matters:

17^th & 24^th June 2015 : Lunch-hour demonstrations before all offices

1^st July 2015 : Badge wearing and Lunch-hour demonstrations

7^th July 2015 : Lunch-hour demonstrations

8^th July 2015 : One day strike

Vide their joint appeal dated June 10, 2015; the unions have requested all classes of employees to participate in above programmes of agitation very actively and make the programmes very successful so that a decent wage-revision (etc.) and another pension option can be achieved.

NON-AVAILABILITY OF RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION IN MUMBAI FOR NEWLY RECRUITED AOs SPECIALLY FEMALE ONES

19.06.2015

MR. P.NAYAK

GENERAL MANAGER(HRM)

THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO.LTD

MUMBAI

Dear Sir,

It is really painful for us to highlight the mental  agony  and sufferings of the newly recruited AOs  specially  female ones for  non-availability of residential accommodation  mainly in Mumbai. It has come to our knowledge that just after completion of  1st  phase of  training at NIA ,  Pune these new AOs  have  been asked to  report  to their respective place of posting for 2^nd phase of training  and to arrange accommodation on their own.  These officers, scheduled to report at various offices in Metro cities like in Mumbai, have been facing a herculean task of searching out a suitable accommodation.   Most of them are new comers to the City of Mumbai and this task of finding out an accommodation cause serious problems.  Especially for women officers   this problem is more critical who may not be in a position to concentrate fully towards on-job portfolio.  After  completion of the  2^nd phase of  on – job training the newly recruited AOs are supposed to go to Pune  again for next phase of training.  At least during this 2^nd phase of training, it would have been proper,  that an Organization of our stature  shall  arrange requisite  accommodation  instead of leaving it on the  shoulder of respective  AOs.   Even it has not been clearly spelt out by the CORP: HRM that these newly recruited  AOs   are eligible  for 30 days halting allowances as per Circular No.CORP.HRM/TRG/2014 dated 23.06.2014

It is also requested to enhance the limit of lease agreement from existing  Rs. 12000/- p. m. for Mumbai and Delhi as it is not possible to  get  an accommodation in these cities within  this  limit Alternatively, in the required cases  , relaxation may be allowed  for sharing by more than two officers .

It is further requested that a separate Transit Camp for outside lady officers  be established  in Mumbai to provide safety and security  and mitigate  hardship.

Hope, you will give due diligence to the issue and do the needful.

With regards,

Sd/- xx xx xx,

SUJIT BAGCHI

GENERAL SECRETARY

NFGIE