SIXTH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION
Response of All India Federation of Superintendents of Customs
17. New concepts
17.1 Do you think the concepts of contractual appointment, part-time work, flexible job description, flexi time etc. need to be introduced in Government to change the environment, provide more jobs and impart flexibility to the working conditions of employees?
Yes, the concepts of contractual appointment, part-time work, flexible job description, flexi-time, etc., need to be very much introduced fully in the Government to change the environment, provide more jobs and impart flexibility to the working conditions of its employees. These are already available to the Private sector with excellent results.
17.2 For improving punctuality/introducing new concepts like flexi time, should biometric entry/exit be introduced?
Yes, for improving punctuality/ introducing new concepts like flexi-time, biometric entry/ exit as one of the reliable enforcing factors may be introduced.
17.3 What steps should be taken to ensure that scientists, doctors, engineers and other professionals with sophisticated education and skills are retained in their specialized fields in Government? Should they be appointed on contract with a higher status & initial pay, advance increments, better service conditions, etc.?
To ensure that scientists, doctors, engineers and other professionals with sophisticated education and skills are retained in their specialized fields in Government, their remainder of service be converted into contractual basis with a higher status and initial pay, advance increments, etc. with freedom to engage in their professions on a part-time basis without impeding on their discharge of duties to the Government.
For the future, all Professionals should be debarred from appearing in the Civil Services examinations other than those for which such specialized qualification, training and/ or experience is required. In all such cases, they should be appointed on contract with a higher status and initial pay, advance increments, better service conditions, etc.
17.4 Should there be lateral movement from Government to non-Government jobs and vice versa? If so, in which spheres) and to what extent?
No, there should be no lateral movement from Government to non-Government jobs and vice-versa.
17.5 It has been suggested that existing Government employees should be encouraged to shift to employment on contract for specified periods in return for a substantially higher remuneration package. Would you agree?
Yes, existing Government employees should be encouraged to shift to employment on contract for specified periods in return for a substantially higher remuneration package.
18. Performance Appraisal
18.1 In what way should be present system of performance appraisal be changed? Should be ACR be an open document?
By making the Annual Confidential Report an open document, the present system of performance appraisal can be changed.
18.2 How far has the introduction of self-assessment helped in the process of appraisal?
Other than blowing your own trumpet, the positive aspects of the introduction of Self-assessment are yet to be felt and thus so far has not really helped in the process of appraisal.
The prevailing model in the United Kingdom where besides Self-assessment, a Superior, an Equal and a Subordinate also do the assessment is worth emulating.
18.3 Should appraisal be done for an entire team instead of for individuals?
No, Appraisal should not be done for an entire team. Instead, it should only be done of/ for individuals.
But, a scheme of evaluation for the team as a whole can be explored as an additional mechanism to foster sense of belonging within the team.
18.4 In what manner can Government employees be made personally accountable for their acts of omission or commission, without any special safeguards? Would you recommend any amendments to Article 311 of the Constitution, Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 17 and 19 of the prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and various rules relating to conduct of Government servants and disciplinary proceedings?
The Government employees are already personally accountable for their acts of omission or commission, without any special safeguards.
No amendments are recommended to Article 311 of the Constitution, Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Sections 17 and 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and the various rules relating to conduct of Government servants and disciplinary proceedings.
19. Holidays
19.1 Kindly comment on the appropriateness of adopting a five-day week in Government offices when other sectors follow a six day week. Please also state whether the number of Gazetted holidays in Government offices should be reduced? Please also comment on the appropriateness of declaring Gazetted holidays for all major religious festivals.
The appropriateness of adopting a five-day week in Government offices when other sectors follow a six-day week is in tune with the aspirations of all concerned and does not require any change and should be continued.
However, Gazetted holidays for all the major religious festivals may be discontinued and further be reduced to the existing Three National holidays only.
Restricted Leave may be discontinued.
Casual Leave may hence be increased to 24 days in a calendar year with the provision of carry over of unavailed leave for a maximum of three years.
19.2 What do you think is the state of work ethics and punctuality in Government offices? Kindly suggest ways of improving these.
The current state of work ethics and punctuality in the Government offices can certainly do with a lot of fine tuning, sensitisation and improvement to achieve global standards.
The suggestions stated in the fore going paras, if implemented in letter and spirit, would certainly lead to all round improvement.