Bank officers serve notice for strike on Dec 11 2015

Bank officers serve notice for strike on Dec 11

The All-India Bank Officers’ Confederation (Aiboc) has given a call for a nationwide strike on December 11 in support of its various demands.

The notice of strike has been served by mail to all concerned, says Harvinder Singh, general secretary, Aiboc.

The one-day strike will be preceded by other types of protests including wearing of black badges while on duty on December 2; demonstrations at the headquarters of all banks on December 4; and mass demonstrations at major centres and state capitals on December 7.

PENDING ISSUES

Singh recalled that the Joint Note for the 1oth bipartite settlement was signed on May 25 but many issues were left pending on the assurance of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) that action would be taken without delay.

Among these are issues pertaining to retirees covered in the record cote; disciplinary matters; calling officers for work on Sundays/holidays; and anomaly in stagnation increments.

Singh said even settled issues of medical aid and reimbursement of medical expenses for retired employees through insurance, have not been implemented.

Despite the lapse of six months and our several reminders, no steps have been taken by the IBA to resolve them.

There is no move either to start negotiations or restart discussions, Singh said. The IBA has not extended even the normal courtesy of acknowledging Aiboc communications.

NAYAK COMMITTEE

These apart, the Centre is announcing and implementing policies based on the recommendations of PJ Nayak Committee to dilute stake in public sector banks; privatise them through denial of capital; put up a Banking Bureau Board; deliberately delay appointment of officer-directors on boards; pick private entrepreneurs as MDs and chairmen in Banks; and permit FDI.

But it has not cared to move decidedly to recover debts from wilful defaulters even as more leeway is being provided to them via asset reconstruction companies and strategic debt restructuring.

Singh also alluded to non-implementation of the understanding between Dhanlaxmi Bank Officers’ Organisation and the management reached in the presence of the Kerala Home Minister and trade union leaders.

In view of these, the executive committee of Aiboc felt that any delay in deciding on direct action will harm the interests of public sector banks and the job security of employees.

Also, there is a need for a re-look at the 10th bipartite settlement in view of the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission and salary settlement of LIC employees.

NEW DA FROM FEB 2016 WILL BE 43% for bank employee

NEW DA FROM FEB  2016 WILL BE 43% for bank employee

Now, 30.11.2015, CPI for the month OCT '15 announced as6140.18. On assumptions that CPI data would slightly increase   for the next  TWO months also  i.e. for  NOV'15 & DEC 15  in that situation the expected (tentatively) increase in DA Slabs comes to 32 slabs for the month of FEB'16 - APR'16, the expected DA payable in terms of percentage is as under :-

CPI for the Quarter

July’15       263 (6003.21) August       264 (6026.04) September 266 (6071.69)

Average CPI for the Quarter April -June 2015 as above = 6033.64

FOR OCTOBER          269                                                                             6140.18

       NOVEMBER        270                                                                             6163.01

     DECEMBER          271                                                                             6185.84

Average CPI for the QuarterOCT  TO DECEMBER  2015 as above =6163.01.

NEW DA   FROM FEB 2016 WILL BE (6163.01-6033.64)/4=32 SLAB i,e 3.2%

Total DA will be 39.80+3.20= 43%

Please note that it is only tentative number of DA slabs assessed by everything banking news group for the quarter FEB 16 - APR 16 based on assumptions of CPI as mentioned above.

On release of CPI data for the month of  DEC 15 we will re-calculate the DA that would become payable for the period FEB 16- APR 16

After BEFI, now AIBOC the largest organisation of Bank Officers in India demand for reopening of 10th Bipartite Settlement

Sri Kamlesh Chaturvedi informs on Facebook as follows :

After BEFI, now AIBOC, the largest organisation of Bank Officers in India has been forced to agitate on demand of We Bankers for reopening of 10th Bipartite Settlement. We reproduce circular issued by AIBOC for ready reference and perusal of bank employees. AIBOC has even given call for various programmes of Agitation including one day Strike on 11th December. Its significant that besides reopening of 10th BPS, AIBOC has admitted its mistake done in the past and has demanded extending of benefit of pension fund to those who joined Banks on or after 01.04.2010 i.e. Those who have been brought under NPS instead of existing Pension Scheme.

What surprises us the most is the manner and style with which various constituents of UFBU are now coming out independently to fight and struggle on certain demands of bank employees. We are unable to understand that top leaders of these constituents who have been displaying deep friendship with each other during the course of negotiation would not have discussed the issues with each other. Why AIBOC has to agitate on these issues independently and singly ? Has AIBOC consulted other constituents of UFBU prior to giving call for agitation? If not why? If yes, then what has been the reaction of others? Why no unity this time? Unless and until, such questions are answered to clear doubts, we are unable to appreciate these constituents. History proves that these unions and associations have their secret agenda and they launch agitation to achieve them. However, in order to secure maximum support they include few of those demands on which bank employees are already agitated. Had the call for agitation been only for reopening of 10th BPS to remove anomalies and bringing employees joining after 01.04.2010 under the existing pension fund from NPS, we would not only have appreciated AIBOC but would have supported it too. But then there are certain demands which relate to benefits of leaders only for example appointment of Officers Directors. Who knows if Strike Call is given to achieve only this demand. Since our present leaders are secretive, they refrain from sharing the truth, we have our doubts on their honest intentions. BEFI must join AIBOC if its serious on demand of reopening of BPS because such a move will instigate and inspire other unions to raise the demand and join the agitation.

" INDIA BANK OFFICERS' CONFEDERATION
(Registered under the Trade Unions Act 1926, Registration No.:3427/Delhi)
C/o Bank of India, Parliament Street Branch
PTI Building, 4, Parliament Street, New Delhi: 110001
Phone: 011-23730096 Tel/Fax 23719431
E-Mail: aiboc.sectt@gmail.com
Circular No. 2015/75 Dated: 27/11/2015
To All Affiliates/State Units/Members
Dear Comrades,
AIBOC GIVES A CLARION CALL FOR
“ONE DAY STRIKE ON 11th DECEMBER, 2015”
You are aware that Joint Note for Xth Bipartite Settlement was signed on
25th May 2015, but there were many issues like the issues of Retirees covered in the Record Note, issue of disciplinary matters, calling officers on Sundays / holidays, anomaly in stagnation increments etc., which remained pending on the assurance of IBA that action required on their part on these issues would soon be taken.

Despite lapse of six months and our several reminders, no steps have been taken by the IBA to resolve the issues, as per the understanding reached during the discussions. There has been no move either to start the negotiations or restart the discussions. Leave apart this, even normal courtesy of acknowledging our communications has not been shown. The settled issues of Medical aid, reimbursement of medical expenses for retired employees through insurance policy are also being denied.
Apart from this, Government, on the one hand,
*is announcing and implementing policies based on the recommendations of P.J. Nayak committee viz. diluting stakes in Public Sector Banks (PSBs),
*privatisation of banks through denial of capital required by PSBs,
*establishing Banking Bureau Board, deliberate delay in appointing Officer Directors on the Banks' Boards,
*appointment of private entrepreneurs as MDs and Chairmen in Banks, permitting FDI in the banking sectors etc.

On the other hand, no steps are being taken to recover debts from willful defaulters, providing more windows by ways of Asset Reconstruction companies and SDRs, thus providing the escape routes to the defaulters of public money.

All these issues were deliberated in the AIBOC Executive Committee meeting held at Mangalore on date. The Committee also discussed the issue of non implementation of the understanding reached between Dhanlaxmi Bank Officers' Organisation (DBOO) and Dhanlaxmi Bank management, in the presence of Hon'ble Home Minister and trade union leaders of the Kerala state.
After due deliberations, the Executive Committee of the Confederation was of the unanimous view that any delay in deciding direct action will be damaging to the very existence of the Public sector and job security of the employees.
It was also the opinion of the Committee that in view of the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission, salary settlement of LIC employees, there is a need to relook into our Xth BPS accordingly.
The Committee unanimously decided to give an All India strike call for
11th December, 2015 and authorized the General Secretary to issue Notice for the strike and to serve it to all concerned authorities. The central leadership was also authorized to decide preparatory action programme.
We take this opportunity to apprise you that Notice of strike has been served by mail today and copies of the same have been sent to CLC (C), Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, to Chairmen / MDs of all PSBs. Notice and statement of the case are also enclosed herewith the circular.
We call upon all our Affiliates/ State Committees to warm up the rank and file and take all possible steps to ensure successful implementation of the strike call. The following action programme has also been decided as preparatory exercise for the strike:
**Black Badge Wearing 2nd December, 2015
**Demonstrations at the Headquarters of all Banks 4th December, 2015
at 5.30 pm
**Common demonstration by the State Committees at all 7th December, 2015
State Capitals & Major centres
We once again call upon all our Affiliates and State Committees to implement all the action programmes and make the strike a grand success.
With revolutionary greetings,
Comradely yours,
(HARVINDER SINGH)
GENERAL SECRETARY
March on ! March On !! March On !

Strike for Demands:
1. Withdrawal of anti- psb proposals and recommendations suggested in the Gyan Sangam.
2. Initiating the immediate steps to resolve the residual issues of the 10th bipartite settlement, viz.,
a. Rectification of anomaly with regard to additional stagnation increment
b. Further discussions on disciplinary matters deliberated in the sub-committees which remain inconclusive
c. Settlement of points covered in the record note on the issues of bank retirees signed on the day of signing of joint note dated 25.05.2015
3. To send an advisory to member banks that officers should not be called on Sundays and Holidays.
4. Proper implementation of new medical insurance scheme as per essence and spirit of the joint note and restoration of domiciliary treatment to retirees opted for medical insurance scheme.
5. Stop attempting the introduction of variable pay in the name of “ performance based incentives” and ESOP for the senior executives.
6. Restoring the bilateralism and implement the bilateral understandings in Dhanalakshmi Bank.
7. Scrapping of NPS and reintroduce the bank level pension scheme for the recruits on or after 1st April 2009.
8. Immediate appointment of officer/workmen directors in public sector banks which is unduly kept pending.
9. Implementation of pension in RRBs.
10. Withdrawal of proposals to amend trade union laws.
to pay uniform pay and allowances in the banking sector.
11. Pension for SBI officers to be improved to 50% of the last
drawn pay without any ceiling."

A senior official of Union Bank of India and three others have been sentenced by Delhi court

A senior official of Union Bank of India and three others have been sentenced to varying jail terms of two to four years for cheating and causing a loss of Rs 1.5 crore to the bank by a Delhi court, which said plunder of public exchequer cannot be permitted at any cost.

The court said any attempt to cause wrongful loss to the public exchequer has to be dealt with sternly as public money was not for looting.

“A clear message is to be sent to the society that plunder of public exchequer cannot be permitted at any cost as the said money belongs to people of the country and is meant for development of the nation and any attempt to cause wrongful loss to public exchequer has to be dealt with sternly,” Special CBI Judge Harish Dudani said.

The court awarded four years jail term to the bank’s former branch manager M C Aggarwal and Chetan Sharma, the proprietor of Delhi-based M/S Royal Sales Corporation. It also sentenced convicts Vipin Sharma and Pawan Kumar Aggarwal, proprietors of two more private firms, to two years in jail.

The four convicts were held guilty for various offences including cheating, cheating by impersonation, using forged documents as genuine and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

Aggarwal was also convicted under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court, in its 173-page judgement, said all the convicts had entered into a conspiracy, due to which wrongful loss was caused to the public exchequer.

“Although, all the convicts have pleaded for lenient view citing various reasons but sight cannot be lost of the fact that convicts had made wrongful gain from the public sector bank which was the hard­earned money of public, of which convict Aggarwal was the custodian.

According to the CBI, a complaint was lodged by the then chief manager of the bank’s Sadar Bazar branch against Chetan Sharma for cheating the institution on the basis of forged and fabricated documents and a case was lodged in January 2009.

Another bamboo waiting for Banker-- CKYCR

The Reserve Bank today said an announcement by the government naming the entity, which will function as the Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR), is expected shortly. 

CKYCR would receive, store, safeguard and retrieve the KYC records in digital form of a client, for which necessary amendments to the related rules have been made. 

The KYC (Know Your Customers) records received and stored by the CKYCR could be retrieved online by any reporting entity across the financial sector.  .. 

A formal announcement by the government naming the entity which will function as the CKYCR is expected shortly," RBI said in a statement. 

It advised banks, payment system providers, system participants and prepaid payment instrument issuers, and others to "be in readiness to share the KYC data" with the CKYCR once the CKYCR is notified by the government. 

In order to facilitate collating and reporting the KYC data to the proposed CKYCR, RBI said the templates have been finalised in consultation with other regulators and CBDT (separate for individuals and legal entity). 

In case of opening of 'Small Accounts', only personal details together with the photograph, signature/thumb impression and self-certification document would be obtained in the template. 

RBI further said the KYC data captured by the template also fulfill the reporting requirement under Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and Common Reporting Standards (CRS). 

"In order to enable reporting entities to comply with the FATCA and CRS reporting requirement, reporting entities are advised to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements within the timelines mentioned in the Rules and Guidance Note, expeditiously," it added. 

How Much Tax Can You Save By Investment Under Sec 80C

The total deduction under this section  is limited to Rs. 1.50 lakh .

Section 80CCC: Deduction in respect of Premium Paid for Annuity Plan of LIC or Other Insurer
• Payment of premium for annuity plan of LIC or any other insurer Deduction is available upto a maximum of Rs. 150,000. The premium must be deposited to keep in force a contract for an annuity plan of the LIC or any other insurer for receiving pension from the fund.
Section 80CCD: Deduction in respect of Contribution to Pension Account
• Section 80CCD (1): Deduction in respect of Contribution to Pension Account (by Assessee}
  Deduction available for the amount paid or deposited in a pension scheme notified or as may be notified by the Central Government subject to a maximum of :
  (a) 10% of salary in the previous year in the case of an employee (b) 10% of gross total income in any other case.
• Section 80CCD (2): Deduction in respect of Contribution to Pension Account (by Employer}
  Deduction available for the amount paid or deposited by the employer of the assessee in a pension scheme notified or as may be notified by the Central Government subject to a maximum of 10% of salary in the financial year.
1. Life Insurance Premium For individual, policy must be in self or spouse's or any child's name. For HUF, it may be on life of any member of HUF.
2. Sum paid under contract for deferred annuity For individual, on life of self, spouse or any child.
3. Sum deducted from salary payable to Govt. Servant for securing deferred annuity for self-spouse or child Payment limited to 20% of salary.
4. Contribution made under Employee's Provident Fund Scheme.
5. Contribution to PPF For individual, can be in the name of self/spouse, any child & for HUF, it can be in the name of any member of the family.
6. Contribution by employee to a Recognised Provident Fund.
7. Contribution by employee to Sukanya Samriddhi Deposit Account.  
8. Sum deposited in 10 year/15 year account of Post Office Saving Bank
9. Subscription to any notified securities/notified deposits scheme. e.g. NSS
10. Subscription to any notified savings certificate, Unit Linked Savings certificates. e.g. NSC VIII issue.
11. Contribution to Unit Linked Insurance Plan of LIC Mutual Fund e.g. Dhanrakhsa 1989
12. Contribution to notified deposit scheme/Pension fund set up by the National Housing Scheme.
13. Certain payment made by way of instalment or part payment of loan taken for purchase/construction of residential house property.
14. Condition has been laid that in case the property is transferred before the expiry of 5 years from the end of the financial year in which possession of such property is obtained by him, the aggregate amount of deduction of income so allowed for various years shall be liable to tax in that year.
15. Contribution to notified annuity Plan of LIC(e.g. Jeevan Dhara) or Units of UTI/notified Mutual Fund. If in respect of such contribution, deduction u/s 80CCC has been availed of rebate u/s 88 would not be allowable.
16. Subscription to units of a Mutual Fund notified u/s 10(23D).
17. Subscription to deposit scheme of a public sector, company engaged in providing housing finance.
18. Subscription to equity shares/ debenture forming part of any approved eligible issue of capital made by a public company or public financial institutions.
19. Tuition fees paid at the time of admission or otherwise to any school, college, university or other educational institution situated within India for the purpose of full time education of any two children. Available in respect of any two children

Tax Payable / Saving Chart

Maximum Invetment for Rebate U/S 80C = Rs. 1.50 Lac

Here The Column Displays

1 = Your Gross Salary,
2 = Your Tax + E.Cess Liability on 1 
3 = Your Investment U/S 80C
4 = Tax Saved By Investment U/S 80C
5 = Net Tax Payable by You after Investment U/S 80C

Gross Salary	Total Tax Liability (Tax + E.Cess)	Your Investment Under Sec 80C	Tax Saved	Tax Payable (Tax+E.Cess)
270000	0	NIL
280000	1030	10000	1030	0
290000	2060	20000	2060	0
300000	3090	30000	3090	0
350000	8240	80000	8240	0
375000	10815	105000	10815	0
400000	13390	130000	13390	0
425000	15965	150000	15450	515
450000	18540	150000	13390	5150
475000	21115	150000	15450	5665
500000	23690	150000	15450	8240
525000	30900	150000	20085	10815
550000	36050	150000	22660	13390
575000	41200	150000	25235	15965
600000	46350	150000	27810	18540
625000	51500	150000	30385	21115
650000	56650	150000	32960	23690
675000	61800	150000	30900	30900
700000	66950	150000	30900	36050
725000	72100	150000	30900	41200
750000	77250	150000	30900	46350
775000	82400	150000	30900	51500
800000	87550	150000	30900	56650
825000	92700	150000	30900	61800
850000	97850	150000	30900	66950
875000	103000	150000	30900	72100
900000	108150	150000	30900	77250
925000	113300	150000	30900	82400
950000	118450	150000	30900	87550
975000	123600	150000	30900	92700
1000000	128750	150000	30900	97850
1050000	144200	150000	36050	108150
1100000	159650	150000	41200	118450
1150000	175100	150000	46350	128750
1200000	190550	150000	46350	144200
1250000	206000	150000	46350	159650
1300000	221450	150000	46350	175100
1350000	236900	150000	46350	190550
1400000	252350	150000	46350	206000
1450000	267800	150000	46350	221450
1500000	283250	150000	46350	236900

PM promised bill in parliament to amend bonus act.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the government will bring to Parliament a bill to amend the Bonus Act with a view to enhance the benefits for the working class.

"We are going to bring an important (bill) in this House (to amend) Bonus Act...The Cabinet has already approved it.

This is a very important bill for our workers. We are taking decisions and working for welfare of the labour class," Modi said while replying to a two-day long debate in the Lok Sabha to commemorate the Constitution Day and the 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.

The Cabinet had earlier decided to double the wage ceiling for calculating bonus to Rs 7,000 per month for factory workers and establishments with 20 or more workers.

RBI policy, Q2 GDP data to steer market this week

The outcome of the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) rate-setting meeting on December 1, September quarter GDP data and hopes of passage of the goods and services tax (GST) bill in the ongoing Parliament session will be key factors driving the market this week.

The benchmark equity indices managed to close higher for the week ended November 27. The S&P BSE Sensex closed 1 per cent higher, while Nifty50 rose 1.1 per cent.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will go for its fifth bimonthly monetary policy review on Tuesday, December 1. Most analysts expect it to be a non-event, and say the central bank would maintain status quo ahead of the crucial US Federal Reserve meeting mid-December.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to hold its policy rate at 6.75 per cent next week to stifle inflation, a Reuters poll of economists showed. All 45 economists surveyed expected RBI to stand pat at its policy review on Tuesday.

"We believe RBI will continue to maintain status quo on policy rates. There may be tweaking of some regulations and some easing out but for this financial year, the chances of any further monetary easing are very limited," Devendra Pant of India Ratings said in an interview with ET Now.

In macroeconomic data, market participants would watch India's gross domestic product (GDP) data for the September quarter, which will be released on Monday, November 30, 2015. 

HSBC to close down India private banking business

Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd (HSBC) on Friday said it will shutter its private banking business in India through which it provides asset-management services to wealthy individuals.

The decision was taken after a review of the bank’s global private banking business in India, as HSBC felt these customers could be served by its premiere banking services, which serve clients with a business relationship worth Rs.25 lakh every year, according to Bloomberg.

“We will work closely with our clients to minimize the impact of this decision and give them a choice to move to HSBC Premiere,” a spokesperson said.

HSBC’s India staff count stands at about 32,000 and there will be no change in that, the spokesperson added.

In February, The Indian Express had released a list of 1,195 Indians who had accounts with HSBC’s Swiss private banking arm, sparking a debate around the large amount of unaccounted-for money stashed in overseas accounts. The amount in these accounts, according to the newspaper, stood at Rs.25,420 crore.

In May, finance minister Arun Jaitley said the government had filed 121 cases against HSBC’s Geneva account holders.

“The decision to shut down Indian private banking operations was not due to the government action against black money,” the bank’s spokesperson clarified. “It was purely business related.”

The private banking arm posted a $7 million profit before taxes for the first half of the year, while the retail banking and wealth management unit posted a $3 million loss, Bloomberg said.

In 2013, the bank had shut down its retail broking and retail depository service business. At that time, 300 employees in these divisions had been laid off.

HSBC India’s net profit rose to Rs.1,490 crore on 31 March 2014, compared with Rs.337 crore in 2003-04, according to data collated by Mint. The bank’s interest income rose to Rs.7,466 crore, a long way from Rs.1,267 crore at the end of March 2004.

In June, HSBC’s chief executive officer Stuart Gulliver announced a three-year plan to shut loss-making businesses and focus on fast-growing Asian economies. The plan talked about reducing the bank’s global work force by 25,000 after an increase in compliance costs.

Various tax, regulatory and law enforcement authorities around the world, including those in Belgium, France, Argentina, Switzerland and India, are conducting investigations and reviews of HSBC’s Swiss private bank in connection with allegations of tax evasion and fraud, money laundering and unlawful cross-border banking solicitation, HSBC said in its annual report released earlier this year.

In February 2015, a public prosecutor in Switzerland commenced an investigation of HSBC Swiss private bank, and the Indian tax authorities issued a summons and request for information to HSBC in India, the report added.

“In response to, and in parallel with, the tax investigations prompted by the data theft more than eight years ago, we have been completely overhauling our private banking business, putting the entire customer base through enhanced due diligence and tax transparency filters. Our Swiss private bank customer base and the countries we serve are now both about one-third the size they were in 2007,” the bank said.

An income-tax department’s spokesperson declined comment.

B.M. Singh, former chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, said the tax department is looking at the Indian entity only to seek more information about the bank account holders. “Any investigation will be conducted only against the Swiss arm,” he said, adding that the sale of the private banking arm is unlikely to impact Indian investigations.

“The initial profitability and size was under pressure as cost of manpower in private banking globally is under scrutiny after serious pullout by the likes of Royal Bank of Scotland, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. The same vertical would now be offered directly as part of retail banking rather than a separate entity which would help cut down costs and bring in economies of scale,” Sanjiv Bhasin, executive vice-president, markets and corporate affairs at India Infoline Ltd, said.

HSBC India joins international lenders such as Standard Chartered Plc, Royal Bank of Scotland and Morgan Stanley in deciding to shut down some of their businesses in India.

Earlier this month, London-based Standard Chartered, India’s largest foreign bank by number of branches, said it will be cutting down on its unsecured retail and corporate banking business in the country as part of its global strategy to reduce the level of stressed assets on its books. The lender also announced 15,000 job cuts as part of its restructuring strategy.

In September, RBS announced that it will be selling its India private banking business to Sanctum Wealth for Rs.200 crore. In April, private-sector lender IndusInd Bank said it had bought RBS’s diamond and jewellery financing portfolio which was worth Rs.4,500 crore.

Other European lenders, including Credit Suisse Group AG and Deutsche Bank AG, are also cutting thousands of jobs globally as they adapt to tougher regulatory demands on capital.