Discuss 7th Pay in House : JAC

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 25: Strongly condemning the failure of the authorities concerned to fulfil any of it demands, including implementation of 7th Pay in Manipur from April 1, 2016, the Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Trade Unions’ Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees’ Organisation (AMGEO), has demanded the Government to discuss the issue during the State Assembly session (which will begin from tomorrow).
If Government fails to heed the appeal, then all the Government employees will resume indefinite ceasework strike, the JAC warned.
Speaking to media persons at the JAC office at Babupara today, its secretary general L Biken said that the JAC and the State Government have met several times to discuss the 22 charter of demands submitted by the JAC.
Stating that the Government issued an order that the 7th Pay will be implemented in the State, on October 18 last year, he explained that the said order deviated strongly from the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendation and as such, the JAC strongly opposed it at that time and it is strongly against the said order even to this day.
He continued that during the 5th meeting between the JAC and the Government, Chief Minister N Biren himself assured to review the State Government order of October 18 but this has not been transformed into action even today.
Instead, a similar order was issued later by the Government which led to immense disappointment for the JAC and the employees and which also showed the inability of the Government to keep good on its promises, he added.
Biken said that the JAC convened a meeting on August 10 and prioritized 12 demands which included adoption of 7th Pay from January 1, 2016, immediate payment of all due DA/DR, establishment of Manipur Staff Selection Commission for recruitment of Group III employees, rectification of pay anomalies, revision of minimum wages, regularisation of genuine work charge, muster rolls, casual and contract employees etc, to stop all form of service extension, engagement, re-engagement of retired employees etc.
He reasoned that the demands put forward by the JAC do not contain any unreasonable ones and it is only aimed at ensuring the Government employees of Manipur enjoy the same benefits and rights as those enjoyed by other employees outside the State.
As such, all the legislators, either ruling or Opposition must bring up and discuss these demands of the JAC in the Assembly session which will start from tomorrow, Biken demanded, cautioning that if the demand of the JAC falls to  deaf ears, then all the employees will resort to an indefinite ceasework strike.
On the other hand, he informed that a special general body meeting of the JAC will be held on August 30.