(a) whether the employees of Employees State Insurance
Corporation (ESIC) went on strike for one day in March, 2001;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor and the details of their demands;
(c) whether the recommendations of the committee appointed to
consider the implementation of fifth pay commission in regard to
employees of ESIC have not been implemented in the corporation; and
(d) if so, the Government`s response in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MUNI LALL)
(a) : Yes, Sir.
(b) to (d) : Under Section 17 of the ESI Act, 1948, Salary,
allowances and other conditions of services of the employees of the
ESI Corporation are required to be in accordance with the rules and
orders applicable to the employees of the Central Government drawing
corresponding scales of pay. Accordingly, benefits of the accepted
recommendations of the Vth Central Pay Commission have been extended
to the employees of the ESI Corporation and arrears in this regard
have since been paid to the employees in December, 1997. The Pay
Committee constituted by the ESIC has, inter-alia, recommended grant
of 50% fitment benefit, grant of higher pay scales to certain
categories of staff including Additional Commissioners, upgradation
of post of Record Sorter and its redesignation as Record Keeper,
extending the benefit available to Group-A Organised Service Officers
of the Central Government to Group-A officers of the Corporation etc.
Keeping in view the legal provisions of the ESIC Act and also the
benefits already extended to the ESIC employees on the basis of the
recommendations of the Fifth Central Pay Commission so far, it have
not been found feasible to accept the recommendations of the Pay
Committee.