Historic Settlement

The so called Historic Settlement has shown how much poor vision our top most union leadership has. After the meeting with IBA when it was decided that all employees / officers who are in the service have to contribute 1.6 times of November, 2007 salary towards their contribution towards giving another chance to PF optees. In all the circulars it was clearly indicated that this has been done with a view so that no legal hurdles are raised. Mr. Nadaf, who himself patted for the Fair settlement, has written that this is necessary as on earlier occasions (read earlier 7th and 8th settlements), PF optees have sacrificed their share.

As late as on 24/04/10 evening Mr.NADAF's Silver Jubilee speech on AIBOC's HISTORIC achievement of 9th BP, he had again reiterated before the members that pension-optees have to contribute as PF optees earlier had foregone their proportionate share in earlier revisions. However, now the same leaders have changed their tones and have gone for agreement with IBA wherein existing pension optees have been exempted from payments and the contribution from PF optees has been increased from 1.6 times to 2.8 times of November, 2007 Pay.

We give below the extracts from the so called "DETAILS OF TNBEF CC MEETING HELD ON 22/8/2009 -CHENNAI, as circulated earlier:

1 The CC congratulated the Units for successful implementation the 6/7 th August Strike.

2 Com CHV elaborately explained the happenings before the strike call and about the CLC proceeding on 7th Aug 2009.

3 The raising of the issue inside the parliament by various opposition leaders forced the Govt to reverse their decisions.

4 It was agreed to offer 17.5 % and also to accept the earlier formula of Pension Option.

5 Sharing the cost of Pension in each settlement is nothing new and it has been there right from the implementation of Pension Settlements

in the Year 1993 - Pension settlement - Pension in lieu of PF 10 %

1995 - 6th Bi-partite - Pension in lieu of PF 10 %

2000 - 7th Bi-partite - 26.5 % minus 10 % = 16.50 %

Additional Cost shared in the ratio 50:50 @ 8.25 % each by Empl & Banks

2005 - 8th Bi-partite - 30.50 % minus 10 % = 20.50 %

Additional cost shared in the ratio 45:55 @ 9.25 % & 11.25 %

2009 - 9th Bi-partite - Cost sharing @ 30 : 70

IBA's present position : In 10th Bi-partite the cost of pension should be worked out and the gap between the cost and 10 % of Basic Pay to be shared @ 30:70. So it is not a new condition imposed by IBA."

Now questions arises as to whether these retired leaders are so foolish that for last 30 months they have not even thought of consulting some lawyer or taken some legal opinion on so much important issues. They collect hundreds of crores of Rupees every year and they are not ready to pay a lakh or so for such an important issue to get the legal position before the start of the negotiations. What should members think about these so called GREAT LEADERS? It is truly said it is not negotiation, but SALE OF THE PRESTIGE OF THE BANKERS BY THESE RETIRED AND TIRED LEADERS.

Read more »

HOW OUR SO CALLED SUPER HERO LEADERS WERE BEFOOLED BY IBA

Almost every banker in last few months have seen number of circulars by our union leaders wherein they have showered whole lot of praise on themselves for achieving a historical settlement. But one more example of "How they have been befooled by IBA" has come to our knowledge through one of readers. A reading of this will make you feel whether our union leaders are really capable of calculations or they go around hotels and enjoy their meals and sleep in the meetings.

Let us go through this example :
(A) WHAT IS THE RECOVERY AMOUNT FOR PENSION FUND AS PER IBA VERSION :
Total amount to be recovered for pension fund = Rs.1,800.00 Crore

(B) WHAT IS THE TOTAL BURDEN DUE TO INCREASE IN SALARIES AS PER IBA VERSION :
Total Amount of increase per year as on 1-11-07 : Rs.4816.00 Crore
( in other words total amount of increase per month : Rs.401.33 Crore)
Thus, all the bankers are required to pay the arrears for 4.485 (say 4½) months only to fully pay the gap of Rs.1800 crs agreed to be recovered from the existing employees.

(C ) WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING PAID BY THE EXISTING EMPLOYEES :
With lot of negotiations and as a biggest gesture, IBA has agreed that all existing employees will pay 1.6 times of the New Salary as on November, 2007.
Now, question arises whether 1.6 times of the new salary as on November, 2007 is less than or equal to the 4½ months arrear?

Let anybody calculate his gross arrears as on November, 2007, and multiply the same by
4½ and they see what he is asked to contribute towards pension fund.
The CAT IS OUT of the BAG. This contribution ranges from 7.42 to 13.07 months salary for Scale I, II and III officers (it varies depending on what %age of HRA you are entitlede). It ranges from 5.75% to 8.92 months gross increase in salary for Scale IV and V officers. Thus, on an average, it appears officers are contributing almost double of the amount that was required as per above calculations to collect Rs.1,800 crores.

Read more »

Meeting With Finance Minister

What is the likely impact of meeting with Finance Minister for recently retired bankers.

Meeting With Finance Minister :
It has been reported that UFBU leaders represented to the Finance Minister that since the Actuarial Report was based on the details of 31-3-2008, the pension option settlement should be effective from 1-4-2008, i.e. those who were on service on 1-4-2008 should be treated as existing employees for the sake of the settlement and pension payments on account of the option should be made from 1-4-2008.
FM did not agree with this viewpoints. However, he stated that the effective date can be taken as 27-11-2009, i.e. the date on which we had signed the MOU.
What is the impact of this decision, which is likely to be the agreed upon by all (IBA & UFBU):
Now, let us try to analyse as to what will be its impact on recently retired bankers.
We are of the opinion that all those bankers who retired between 01-11-2007 and 26/11/2009 (i.e. almost a period of two years) and were PF optees and now wish to switch over to Pension option, will be at a great loss. These people were being given the impression that as the new settlement will be effective from 1-11-2007, at least all these bankers will be at par with the bankers who are in service at present.
Now all those retirees (i.e. ex bankers who retired between 01.11.2007 and 26.11.2009), have to return 156% of the bank's contribution of PF amount, instead of merely 1.6 times of the salary of November, 2007. Had they been considered at par with the existing bankers in service, they would have been asked to merely pay 1.6 times of the salary of November, 2007 + bank's contribution was to be returned.

Let us take an Example : Let us suppose a person who retired on 31st October, 2009, and he received PF amount, which included bank's contribution to the tune of Rs.10,00,000/-, and the Basic Pay we got fixed under the new scales is Rs.38200/-. Now, in case he wishes to opt for the pension, he will have to shell out Rs.15,60,000/- from his savings. Had he retired on 30th November, 2009, he would have to merely pay Rs. 61,120/-+Rs10,00,000/-. Thus, he will be paying almost Rs 4,98,000/- extra merely because he retired only one month earlier (of course he retired after the date of the New Settlement i.e 01-11-2007). It was merely due to the delaying tactics of IBA that this person will be suffering. Mostly likely they also have to pay the 1.6 times of the November, 2007 salary as this is to be paid by everybody who is entitled for arrears wef 01-11-2007.

We feels this group of people will be the most affected in terms of immediate maximum outflow of funds. Most of them have hardly used the funds received at the time of retirement.
Their cases are even more genuine then the existing pension optees who are asked to contribute towards the gap for offering 2nd option to PF optees. In case of pension optees, unions may still be able to prove that PF optees actually shared some load in earlier settlements to pay off the pension optees. However, in case of retirees after 01-11-2007, it is strong case as the new settlement is effective from 01-11-2007 for all almost all purposes expect for 2nd option for pension.

Read more »

Background for Pension Facilities in Banking Industry in India

Background for Pension Facilities in Banking Industry in India :
The present guidelines indicate that employees who have joined in the service of the bank on or after 29-09-1995 are automatically covered under the Pension Scheme. However, employees who were in the serving in the banks up to 28.09.1995 have to opt for Pension. This option was allowed as one time exercise in 1995, and employees who opted for Pension were not eligible for the bank contribution to PF.

A) Various Types of Pension

The following types of Pension are normally available to employees in banks, under Employees Pension Regulations, 1995:-

1. Superannuation Pension.:

Granted on attaining the age of superannuation. Minimum 10 years qualifying service required. Maximum service reckoned is 33 years (for this purpose fraction of service in excess of 6 months will be reckoned as one year).

2. Pension on Voluntary Retirement.

Minimum 20 years qualifying service is required. The qualifying service of an employee retiring voluntarily shall be increased by a period not exceeding five years subject to the condition that the retiree has got remaining service of 5 years and the total qualifying service shall not in any case exceed 33 years.

The employee may give notice of not less than three months in writing to the appointing authority; seeking voluntary retirement. The notice of voluntary retirement shall require acceptance by the appointing authority.

3. Invalid Pension.

This is applicable to employees who retire from service on account of bodily or mental infirmity, which permanently incapacitates him from the service. Minimum 10 years qualifying service is required to apply for invalid Pension. He has to submit a medical certificate of incapacitation from a Medical Officer approved by the bank.

4. Compassionate Allowance.

An employee who is dismissed or removed or terminated from service shall forfeit pension. In such cases the authority higher than the authority competent to dismiss or remove or terminate him may, if the case is deserving of special consideration, sanction of a compassionate allowance not exceeding two third of the Pension which would have been admissible to him on the basis of the qualifying service rendered up to the date of dismissal.

5 Premature Retirement Pension.

Premature retirement pension may be granted to employees who have rendered minimum 10 years of service and retires from service on account of orders of the bank to retire prematurely in the public interest or for any other reason specified in service regulations or settlement; if otherwise he was entitled to such pension on superannuation on that date.

6 Compulsory Retirement Pension.

An employee compulsorily retired from service as a penalty in terms of service regulations or settlement by the authority higher than the authority competent to impose such penalty may be granted Pension at a rate not less than 2/3 and not more than full Pension admissible to him on the date of his compulsory retirement, if otherwise he was entitled to such pension on superannuation on that date.

B) Rate of Pension :

Minimum Pension Rs 1435/- per month, who retire on or after 01.05.2005.

C) Maximum Pension

Those who have got 33 years of qualifying service will get 50% of their average emoluments as Basic Pension and where the qualifying service is less than 33 years; the basic pension would be proportionate to their service.

D) Calculation of Basic Pension.

Average of 10 months pay prior to the date of retirement has to be calculated (pay includes BP + increment component of FPP+PQP).

Basic pension = (10 months’ Average Pay x No of years of service) / (2x33)

E) Dearness Relief on Basic Pension.

In respect of employees who retire on or after 1.5.2005, Dearness Relief shall be payable for every rise or be recoverable for every fall, as the case may be of every 4 points over 2288 points in the quarterly average of the All India Average Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers in the series 1960 = 100, at the rate 0.18% of Basic Pension.

F) Family Pension :

In the event of death while in service or after retirement, family pension shall be payable to spouse/dependents at the following rates w.e.f. 01.5.2005.

Scale of pay per month Amount of Family Pension

Upto Rs 5720 30% of the pay as family pension

with minimum of Rs 1435/-

Rs 5720 to 11440 20% of the pay as family pension

with minimum of Rs 1715

Above Rs 11440 15% of the pay as family pension

with minimum of Rs 2292 and

Maximum of Rs 4784

Dearness Relief is applicable to Family Pension at the same rate applicable to Pension.

There is no stipulation for minimum service for Family Pension. In the case of an employee who dies after 7 years of service, higher family pension equal to 50% of pay last drawn by the deceased employee or twice the ordinary rate of family pension whichever is less, is payable till the date of deceased employee would have attained the age of 65 years subject to a maximum period of 7 years.

Also in the event of death after retirement, before attaining the age of 65 years, higher family Pension as above shall be given. Pay for this purpose has to be computed as given in clause D above.

G Commutation of Pension

One third of Basic Pension may be commuted.

Commuted Value = 1/3rd Basic Pension x 12 x factor corresponding to age next birthday as on date of application for commutation as given in the table below.

After commutation, monthly Pension will be 2/3rd of Pension but D.A. is payable on full Pension. At the end of 15 years after commutation, full pension shall be restored. Commutation amount is exempted from Income Tax.

H. Gratuity
Gratuity is payable on death, retirement, permanent disablement or resignation of an employee and it is calculated by two methods as given below and the amount whichever is higher will be paid. Gratuity amount up to 3.50 lacs is exempted from Income Tax.


I. Gratuity Act 1972:

An employee is eligible for gratuity after completion of 5 years of service. The Gratuity payable under the act is 15 days wages for every completed years of service. The maximum gratuity payable under the Act is Rs.3.50 lacs.(AIBOC has represented to the Labour Ministry to raise the maximum limit to Rs 10 lacs, as allowed to Central Govt Employees).

Wages for this purpose will mean Basic Pay + PQP + FPP (less HRA component) + Dearness Allowance).

The Calculation is as follows:

Gratuity Amount = (Wages) x No of year of service x 15/26

j. Gratuity as per Service Regulations

An employee is eligible for gratuity after completion of 10 years service. The gratuity payable is 15 months pay up to 30 years of service plus additional 15 days pay for every completed years of service beyond 30 years (Pay for this purpose means BP + PQP + Increment component of FPP).

Read more »

Union Bank Of India Enters Mutual Fund

In a latest development,Union Bank of India has teamed up with KBC Asset Management based in Belgium to form a new asset management entity. The new venture is called Union KBC Asset Management which was inaugurated on Friday in Mumbai by Prince Philippe of Belgium. It will start mutual fund operations in the country soon, as the bank has revealed. The joint venture was signed two years back and as per the agreement, KBC has 49 percent stake in it while Union Bank of India has 51 percent stake. The entity is now awaiting the final approval from SEBI for making the investments. The news has been affirmed by the Managing Director and chairman of the bank Mr M.V. Nair.

Union Bank of India is expecting that SEBI will give it the required nod in a few months. The first fund of the newly formed entity will be offered in the last part of this year, the Chief Executive Officer of the JV, Mr G. Pradeepkumar has said. Recruitment for the fund management team will start in the next few weeks, as it is being planned. The JV will churn out open-ended equity funds, capital-protected investment funds and other products targeted at the retail consumers.

The Mutual fund market in India has witnessed huge growth in the recent years and Union Bank of India wants to utilize the opportunity. In the initial stage, the mutual fund operations will rely on the existing branches of the bank, as it has been learnt. It may also tie up with other banks later.

Read more »