CBOA, AP issued its circular No. 009 dated 07.03.2011 on violation of bank’s policies in extending facilities and benefits to the newly recruited Probationary Officers. We are placing the same here for our readers.
CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2011: 009 Date: 07.03.2011
TO ALL OFFICERS PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear Friends,
We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2011/06 dated 04-03-2011 received from our Federation for your information.
With best regards
Yours sincerely
Sd/-
(C.A.
GENERAL SECRETARY
…………...............................................................................................
“RECRUITMENT OF PROBATIONARY OFFICERS IN THE BANK –
VIOLATION OF BANK’S POLICIES IN EXTENDING FACILITIES AND BENEFITS
On 29th January 2011, a batch of newly recruited Probationary Officers (about 900 officers) have reported to the bank in various Zones. The large scale retirement of officers in the last few years has resulted in increasing the work load on officers and affected the smooth functioning of the branches. This has also impacted the growth and development of the bank. On account of this situation, we have been demanding for recruitment and promotion of officers in the bank.
After reporting of these recruitees, the bank has come out with an ambitious training programme (class room and on the job) extending for a period of about 52 weeks. The facilities/benefits like House rent reimbursement, hotel facility for the first 15 days , TA, DA during posting outside the head quarters etc have already been decided long back and are a part of the bank’s policy, OSR, Guidelines etc.
All of a sudden our management has come out with a circular in the last week of Feb 2011, denying the already existing facilities to these new recruitees in violation of the bank’s policies. Some of the Zones after permitting the facilities in vogue earlier, have now resorted to recovery of the expenses already approved / allowed to these recruitees, in the light of the new circular issued in Feb 2011, after a month of the reporting of these officers. It is nothing but a humiliation meted out to the officers community. This may also discourage the recruitees in continuing in the bank, as they already have alternatives in hand. Finally the bank and the existing officers would be the sufferers, due to the whims and fancies of the management.
We have addressed a communication to the bank in this regard which is reproduced hereunder for your information:
“Recently the bank has recruited Probationary Officers in Scale I. We understand that another batch of Probationary Officers have been sent recruitment letter for reporting on 5th March 2011 to bridge the refusal in the first batch of POs who reported on 29th January 2011.
Earlier the management had issued a circular narrating the details of benefits that would be given to the present batch of POs. It was made clear that the POs will be posted to Zonal/Regional Offices which would be treated as their headquarters and thereafter they will be sent to various branches for On-the-Job training. It was also informed that the officers will be eligible for TA, DA as per their entitlement under the OSR.
The class-room training for these POs were held at SPBT, Mumbai, CBOTC, Kolkata, CBOTC, Bhopal and other centers. Some of the recruitees were to be retained at Mumbai, Bhopal & Kolkata itself after their training. We had made a request that even these officers should be permitted hotel reimbursement facilities for the first 15 days. Though these officers have undergone the training at these three places, they were not aware of their posting and also could not find a suitable accommodation for their stay immediately. The management had concurred with the views of the Federation.
Now we are shocked to have come across a circular dated February 25th 2011 addressed to all Zonal Offices which has reportedly been issued in partial modification of the earlier instructions, giving the details of the facilities now available to the Probationary Officers. It is surprising that the entire 52 week period has been treated as training period for the purpose of extending limited benefits/facilities. In this regard, we would also like to inform you the following:
1. There are existing circulars (recent being circular CO/HRD/IRP/2010-11/4 dated 28/4/10) available in the bank giving the details of the facilities available to the POs on recruitment. Also these are a part of the bank policies/settlements/Officers’ Service Regulations and Government guidelines.
2. The Probationary Officers were made aware that they shall be eligible for the facilities as available under the OSR and as conveyed in circulars earlier by the management. During the training programme at CBOTC, SPBT etc. the visiting faculties from the bank have also clarified about the benefits/facilities available to POs (the circular dated Feb. 25, 2011 runs contrary to this).
3. A mention has been made in the circular dated February 25, 2011 that during the On-the-Job training, the Probationary Officers will be allowed only pro rata amount equal to their rent free accommodation entitlement for those days when they are away from the headquarters. This is a clear violation of the Government guidelines/OSR and bank policies.
4. The Probationary Officers cannot be denied of the allowances which they are otherwise eligible as provided in OSR by issuance of overriding administrative guidelines, as no such power vests in OSR.
5. When it is accepted that the Zonal or Regional Office/Centre is the headquarters, the Probationary Officers will automatically become eligible for hotel reimbursement, TA, DA facilities, when they are out of headquarters, which cannot be denied.
6. Even in the earlier batches, the POs have been permitted 15 days hotel reimbursement facility at the time of reporting. Hence the present batch of POs is also eligible for such hotel reimbursement facility. We have been informed that some of the Zones after permitting the hotel facility for first 15 days from 29/01/2011, have now advised recovery of the bills paid, in the light of new circular. How can the facility be withdrawn from a retrospective effect unilaterally & in violation of the OSR/bank’s policy putting the new recruits to serious financial problem?
7. The management has not been able to get sufficient number of POs for recruitment in the bank. Even after recruitment many of the POs have been leaving the bank for better opportunities. When such being the case, denying minimum requirement of hotel reimbursement facilities at the time of recruitment and also during their stay in a centre outside the headquarters is not proper and not in the interest of the bank or the recruitees. This may dissuade the recruitees from continuing with the bank’s service.
8. When an officer has been permitted rent reimbursement facility at headquarters and thereafter he is asked to go to a rural or any other centre for working, the minimum the management should think of is his lodging and boarding. When an officer has been posted outside the headquarters, whether it will be possible to find an accommodation on rent for a period of six weeks or two months should have been thought of before issuing the circular. Further the officers cannot be expected to pay out of pocket for staying outside the headquarters for undergoing On-the-Job training. It is strange that the treatment of not paying TA/DA has been applied even to the POs who are being posted outside their home Zone (to another Zone) for on the job training. It is apparent that the department has issued the circular in haste without understanding the pros and cons of the instructions.
9. While on the subject we also understand that the salary for the month of January & February 2011 has not been paid to many of the recruitees.
In the interest of the bank and the officers and to give these new recruitees minimum required facilities, we request you to immediately revise the decision and permit them the facilities as available under the OSR/Government guidelines/bank circulars issued in this regard in the recent past. The cost of providing such On-the-Job training should not come in the way of permitting facilities as this should have been considered before deciding about the On-the-Job training and sending letters to the Probationary Officers. Such norms would only dissuade these POs from continuing their service in the bank and finally the bank will be the loser. Hence this matter requires a thorough review by the management urgently.”
We shall follow up the matter to its logical conclusion.”
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
(D.S. BHADAURIA)
GENERAL SECRETARY
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