Uttarakhand: Government employees to get free treatment under Atal Ayushman Yojana
29 February 2020: Uttarakhand cabinet approved the extension of free healthcare benefit to government employees under Atal Ayushman Yojana. According to this scheme employees will be charged a nominal premium ranging from Rs.250 to Rs.1,000 annually. Moreover the scheme allows government employees to access healthcare services from the private sector without the mandatory referral from a government hospital.
Punjab: No more Extension of Service after Retirement at 58 years
28 February 2020: In an attempt to create new jobs, the Punjab government has decided to scrap its eight-year-old scheme that allowed government employees to seek a two-year extension in service beyond the retirement age of 58 years, a move that will cut five-six per cent of the workforce. The Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal added that the decision will be implemented in two phases: those employees who have already turned 59 will now retire on 31 March 2020 and those who are 58 will retire from 30 September 2020. The financial outgo on account of reducing the retirement age would be about Rs. 3,500 crore.
EPF: Full pension after 15 years of commutation
27 February 2020: The Ministry of Labour and Employment in a notification dated 20 February has notified the restoration of full pension after 15 years of retirement for pensioners under the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) scheme who have commuted part of their pension at the time of retirement. The move will benefit 6.3 lakh pensioners and substantially increase pensions for those who retired before 26 September 2008 and had opted for partial commutation of pension. The higher or full pension benefit will be restored after 15 years from the date of receiving commuted pension at the time of retirement.
Maharashtra: Cabinet approves 5-day week for government employees
13 February 2020: Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday approved a five-day week for 22 lakh government employees starting 29 February. However, their working hours have been extended by 45 minutes from 9:45 am to 6:15 pm every day with a 30 minute lunch break.
While in Mumbai all government offices, including employees of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, will follow the new working hours, the five-day week will not apply to government offices covered under the Factories Act and the Industrial Disputes Act and to those that are considered essential services or providers of such services. These include government hospitals, dispensaries, police, jails, fire services, conservancy workers, water supply projects and educational institutes.
Goa: Following protests, CM refers ESMA amendment bill to select committee
6 February 2020: Following objections from the opposition members of the Assembly, the chief minister has agreed to send the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act (Amendment) bill to a select committee. According to the proposed amendment, the jail term for violation of the provisions of the act was increased from 6 months to 3 years. It also proposes an amendment to Section 9 of the principal act making the offence cognisable and non-bailable.
