Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh has promised to set up a committee under the Finance Minister to decide within two weeks on the Pay Commission recommendations, and other grievances, of the employees in the state. He further said the committee's recommendations would be implemented with any delay.Captain Amarinder gave this assurance to a delegation of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of various State Ministerial Services Unions, which met him here on Wednesday morning. The JAC is made up of the Punjab State Ministerial Services Union, Punjab Draftsman Association and Workers Federation of Punjab Electricity Board.The delegation submitted a memorandum to Captain Amarinder, who heard them sympathetically and assured them of taking up their demands on priority after government formation. An action plan will be given concrete shape in a time-bound manner to address their demands, the PPCC president told the delegation.
Captain Amarinder assured them that the special committee to be formed under the finance minister will also look into their demand for fixing of retirement age at 60 years permanently, or alternatively, for extension of benefit of increment and promotion to those given extension beyond 58 years, which is currently not the case.Captain Amarinder also assured the delegation that the committee under the FM would be directed to take up their demand for implementation of ACP Scheme (Assured Career Progression Scheme) also known as 4-9-14 and revival of the old pension scheme, which had been done away with from 2004.On their demand for release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears in lump sum, Captain Amarinder said it would be done with effect from the commencement of the next financial year, subject to the financial health of the State exchequer.The delegation further demand withdrawal of the undeclared closure of Treasury so that pending bills of officials pertaining to their General Provident Fund and Medical Reimbursement, etc. are cleared and paid without delay. Captain Amarinder assured them that the treasury would never be closed and all pending bills would be cleared without any delay.