Employees (updated upto 15th April 2024)
A. GENERAL POLICY ISSUES
I. Policy issues (Primary)
a) To recognize FORSE as a
representative Body of Retirees of SAIL and formally involve FORSE
representatives for swift and appropriate policy making decisions including
pension, gratuity, Mediclaim and all post-retiral benefits.
b) SAIL to discuss the
issues related to Retirees only with FORSE representatives (not with other
organisations). This is to be done by including our representatives in pension,
Mediclaim and emergency fund sub-committees for policy making, detailed
workout and day-to-day operation as only FORSE represents the interests of the Retirees.
In view of the above concerned authorities are requested to withdraw, avoid and
ignore, the MOUs or any other decision arrived at with any other organization/
body, officially designated for consultation on the issues related to serving
employees, on matters related to SAIL Retirees and make appropriate changes
wherever necessary in discussion with FORSE.
c) To organize SAIL-
FORSE meetings at least twice in a year or earlier if the situation so
warrants. (ONGC follows this practice of regular meetings with their retirees’
representatives.)
d) SAIL to provide
office space for FORSE in Kolkata preferably for free and to provide some space
at centrally located place in the SAIL Plants/ Units to FORSE/ Local affiliated
Associations for their operation and for day to day interaction, counselling
and servicing to their members and to attend to their call during emergent
needs (Request has already been made earlier).
e) Strengthening
channels of communication between FORSE/ Individual Retiree and SAIL Offices/Units
for ventilating grievances: As per SAIL Circular on Mediclaim dated 11th April
2019 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-OgRTYEqypsze_SFyFqknEojI32jArm5/view Role & Responsibilities of the following Nodal Offices
for SAIL Retirees were defined.
However, SAIL Plants/ Units are yet to post personnel on the post.
A bi-monthly meeting with Retirees Associations, as envisaged in the same
circular, is yet to take place in any of the Plants/Units
f) To develop real
concern for the retired employees and to look after their welfare as part of
corporate social responsibility.
g) Introduction of a
clause on satisfaction/ views of "Retd. PSU Employees in the PM's Trophy
assessment criteria and Best Employer award by SCOPE.
h) SAIL/CMO to designate
one Nodal Officer within each of the Regions in CMO and provide/ update Names
with their contact details to fORSE all the concerned Associations in place of
only one Nodal Officer in HQ Kolkata only.
i) House Leasing Policy:
a. A uniform
Long-Term House leasing policy: This re-enforces our views expressed to you in
our communications in the past that a uniform Long-Term House leasing policy
must be prepared and implemented for all SAIL Townships, wherever they exist.
According to this, the House must be leased on long term basis only to the
Ex-Employees/ Employees or their family members.
b. An Auto renewal policy / modus operandi for Houses allotted to the Ex-Employees on license basis for 11 months/ 22 months/ 33 months should be adopted and implemented for not less than 33 months. Even these houses may be brought under the Long-term House leasing policy as the houses are going to remain vacant or under the control of anti-social/ mafia type elements if employees are not allowed to occupy.
--Also SAIL must pay interest on the deposits in the name of Security money.
--Increase on rent after each 11 months must be stopped.
c. No auctioning of the
company's Houses: We are given to understand that some units of SAIL have gone
for auctioning of the company houses. We would like to put it on record that
due to lack of resources our Ex-employees may not bid and once again the
chances are that the houses will be captured by wrong elements. Such
auctioning/bidding by outsiders must be stopped.
II. Policy issues
(Secondary)
i) To
provide/extend infrastructural facilities like SAIL Guest House accommodation,
Hall booking for Social functions etc., to retirees for social function like
marriage etc. on the financial terms and conditions less than those applicable
to the current employees.
j) Participation
of Retirees’ family in SAIL sponsored/ financed social programmes at par with
Regular employees in the SAIL Plant/ Unit Townships.
k) Deployment of retired
employees by SAIL in various jobs/activities as consultants, advisors
etc.-utilization of in-house talents (as suggested by MoS)
III. Policy issues (Issues from
Plants/ Units)
l) Release
of payment of arrears to employees of SAIL Refractory Unit (erstwhile Bharat
Refractories Ltd) on urgent basis.
m) The benefit of leave
encashment (beyond 300 days) should be restored to all those who retired in
July 2013 and onward by withdrawing the Payments for Leave beyond 300 days by
an Office Order issued on 19th Dec 2013 and implemented it
retrospectively from July 2013 and onwards. The Order was issued. We demand
that that SAIL retirees should also be allowed to encash the accumulated money
beyond 300 days leave and should be allowed to encash it like other PSUs (BHEL,
GAIL, NTPC, ONGC etc) had given an opportunity as a one-time settlement.
n) The HRA arrears to be paid
to CMO Retirees from 1-1-12 to 30-6-13, to those retired during the period and
subsequent to 30-6-2014.
o) 51 ex-employees in
VISL are residing in the above scheme after lapse of 12 months. (defaulters).
We demand that they be regularised and their security money be refunded
forthwith.
p) Wage board financial
benefits were effective from April 2020 and not from 01.01.2107. For
retired employees wage arrears was paid in month of June 2022 in VISL.
q) Also out of 51
ex-employees about 12 were defaulters in the month of June 2022 (residing even
after lapse of 12 months). Wage board arrears were not paid to them. Rather
than punishing them by withholding the payment SAIL to pay their Wage board
arrears
B. DIRECT
FINANCIAL BENEFIT ISSUES
IV. EPS ’95 Pension Scheme & Financial
assistance related Issues
a) a) The Supreme
Court passed its order on the EPS 95 case on 04th Nov 2022, The SC judgement is of mixed type.
They are favourable to post- Sept. 2014 pensioners but opposed to the interests
of pre- Sept. 2014 pensioners. Except that Exempted and Non-Exempted
Establishments will be at par, pre-Sept 2014 Pensioners are not benefited even
after the Court said that RC Gupta was applicable to all, as the cut-off date
was not allowed to change. The court has thus created disparity between pre-
and post- 2014 retirees.
The Employees retiring after 31st Aug 2014 are
benefited to the extent that the cap on salary Rs.15000/- is removed and
additional contribution of 1.16% is removed. Those in service and retired after
Sep 2014 can do a joint option within the 4 months grace period given by the
court. (a) A few Review Petitions
and Miscellaneous Applications including the one V N SHARMA & others vs EPFO & Anr (Diary No. 6998/2023, Case
No. 241/2023) and (b) Contempt Petition(C) No. 877 of 2023 in W.P.
(C) No. 1134 of 2018 were filed in SC on our behalf for the benefit
of the pre-01/09/2014 ineligible pensioners. They were all rejected by the SC.
b) In view of the ‘One
Rank One Pension’ type arrangement recommended for employees of both defence
and the civilian sector in the Report of the 7th Central Pay
Commission submitted to the Govt. our demand of ‘One Rank One Pension’ and
similar benefits to SAIL retirees’ stands justified.
c)
To formulate schemes for monetary help to those retired on or before 31st December
2006 (Pre-2007 Retirees) or Dec 2011 (NEs) in form of monthly
pension of a minimum of Rs.5000/-
and ex-gratia payment periodically to mitigate their urgent needs as is in
force in ONGC, BHEL, IOC etc.
d) Gratuity
payment wef 2017, its possibilities to revert back wef January 2017 instead of
28th March 2018. https://sailex.blogspot.com/2022/01/letter-for-gratuity-payment-wef-01012017.html
e) SAIL
to extend the facilities of travel tickets etc through M/s. Balmer and Lawrie
for all retired employees –Ex.& Non-Ex.
C. A comprehensive Note with Suggestions for
improvement in Healthcare for SAIL Retirees
I.
All SAIL Retirees to be
treated at par with serving employees at least for hospitalised treatment in
SAIL nominated hospitals as per agreement with NJCS in 1978 (Annexure -I) and
also prevalent in some major PSUs like ONGC, IOC, EIL, NTPC etc
II.
Till above is
implemented coverage under OPD to be raised to Rs.20000/- and under IPD/
Hospitalisation cases Rs.8 lakh on floater basis for the employee and the
spouse without any increase in premium to be paid by Retired Employees. (Even
Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant has better Healthcare schemes and premium share much
lower than SAIL retirees)
III.
Enlargement of list of
hospitals with cashless facility for IPD treatment and OPD centres (annexed as
Annexure-II) by including all franchise centres or centres branded with IPD listed
hospitals irrespective of location should be allowed for OPD treatment. (Ispat
Cooperative Hospital, Sonarpur, Kolkata, a modern hospital with sophisticated
facilities at lower cost which can compete with any super speciality hospital
built and run by our employee’s cooperative at Kolkata should be approved. This
hospital is already approved by SAIL for OPD treatment).
IV.
Restoration of all
earlier hospitals for cashless treatment unless the concerned Hospital has
refused cashless service.
V. Uniform Health care policy for all Retirees throughout all SAIL
Plants/ Units Hospitals and contracted dispensaries in all locations. Medicines
not available in the SAIL Hospital/ dispensary should be made available to
retirees by the Hospital as is the practice followed in SAIL Corporate Office.
VI. SAIL to ensure with the
Insurer/ TPA the home delivery of Medicines to all retirees in all locations settled
across the country within the shortest period as has been done with M/s.
Franklin Ross for supplying Medicines at Kolkata).
VII.
Increased budget
provisions for purchase of medicines at unit level as during last three months
medicines were not purchased and given to retirees on the plea that budget was
exhausted.
VIII.
SAIL to ensure inclusion and implementation of the GIC policy, in
agreement with the Insurer/ TPA, of 'Cashless Everywhere' initiative to extend
the cashless treatment at all hospitals including SAIL Hospitals so
that the Health insurance policyholders can now avail of cashless facilities
even at hospitals that are not in the network of the insurers. This order/circular should
be published in SAIL website under Mediclaim portal.
IX.
SAIL to create
facilities of a consulting doctor, a dispensary and a medical store in all
cities/towns, where it does not have a Hospital/ dispensary of its own, on the
same pattern as exists in the Corporate Office, Delhi.
X.
The facility for OPD
treatment and disbursement of medicines in Corporate office is very much
welcome ie entertainment of prescription by outside doctors
being endorsed by SAIL doctor is submitted to a dedicated shop for procurement
fully without any cash payment (the bills are sent to SAIL Corp Office directly
without any OPD ceiling for getting payment) SHOULD ALSO BE extended in other
Metropolis/cities having SAIL OPD centres.
XI.
Reimbursement should be
allowed for treatment by registered medical practitioners as there is advantage
due to logistics of habitats and high charges of specialists of hospitals
attached to OPD.
XII.
The cost recovery of
medicines and treatment by the insurance company should be stopped forthwith.
XIII.
The medical books issued
by units should be allowed in all SAIL unit hospitals / dispensaries/ Doctors
sitting in metropolitan cities and at corporate office.
XIV.
Actual cabin/ room
charges of Hospital should be paid not exceeding 2 percent of total limit on
floater basis ie Rs.8000 at metropolis and at other places. Calculation
should be made on the combined floater upper limit eg Rs 4 lakh now and Rs 8
lakh when implemented.
XV.
SAIL Nodal Officer/IRPs
for Mediclaim matters to be responsible for settling grievances of
Mediclaim members in relation to treatment, payment, entry, release and
settling of Bills for Cashless treatment of member from Hospital.
XVI.
SAIL to take full load
on premium for the beneficiaries except maybe a small token money for
revalidation of medical card in lieu of live certificate, to complete
negotiations and settling of terms and conditions with Insurance Co and the TPA
by March every year and to issue Guidebook etc by early April.
XVII.
Renewal of lapsed
Mediclaim: Anytime and every time with a nominal charge.
XVIII.
Pending above
improvement in present medical scheme with enhancement in limits/ ceiling as
per earlier demand, deletion of large number of exclusion clauses, capping
system, payment within 15 days as per stipulated clause.
XIX.
Clause
12 of the Agreement as shown below
should be amended to replace Profit sharing by SAIL with the Insurance Company
to profit sharing exclusively with Mediclaim members.
XX.
Upgradation of the
present Medical facilities with review of present Medical Scheme and
functioning of TPA on the following parameters.
a) Streamlining
of functioning of TPA, timely despatch of brochure/card, publication of names
of enlisted hospitals etc
b) Asking
for fixed documents like Bank details, cancelled cheque, Photographs, Address
proof etc by SAIL or the TPA at the time of renewal or for settlement of Bills
must stop.
c) In
view of the fixed upper limit of cost of treatment, the Cappings become
redundant and hence needs to be withdrawn.
d) Best
serving Hospitals for OPD and Indoor Cashless Treatment need to be listed and
retained without break in-between. TPA must ensure that admission to a Hospital
against cashless facility during the tenure is not denied.
e) However,
in rare case of exigencies, the TPA may withdraw recognition to a Hospital
listed for OPD or Cashless treatment but only by circulating a one month’s
notice in advance to all the SAIL Mediclaim Members/ Spouse.
f) The
TPA/ Insurer must ensure settlement of all Bills for Re-imbursement within 15
days. d) In case of default in making justifiable payment within stipulated
payment, the Insurance company/TPA should be made liable for payment of
interest @ 2 percent over and above prevailing bank rate for the delayed period
(IRDA have also set same guidelines).
g) The
TPA / Insurer must not exceed a maximum of 3 hours for approving treatment and
release of payment after treatment for cases of Cashless treatment.
XXI.
The listed hospitals
should charge the same rates for rooms/ OT/ diagnostics charges etc which they
are charging for serving SAIL employees as referral cases.
XXII.
All actual charges for
ICU/ ICCU/ ITU/ Ventilation and for any life support procedures should be
payable on actual.
XXIII.
In case of
widows/widowers of the member, total coverage should be allowed in case he/she
agrees to pay full premium ie for both.
XXIV.
Renewal of Yearly
Mediclaim policy: The Yearly Scheme may please be finalized at least two months
before the year is over i.e. within March and the booklet should be made
available to the members latest by the last week of March every year by SAIL
instead of leaving the matter entirely with the TPA.
XXV.
The procedure for filing
claim in case of deceased person should be formulated and incorporated in the
booklet.
XXVI.
In case of settlement of
disputes, name of the officer with designation, official address, contact
number etc to whom such cases are being referred should be clearly spelt out.
XXVII.
Registered Association/
Society should be authorized to deal on behalf of Mediclaim members.
XXVIII.
Inclusion of various
tests like MRI etc. and therapy (like "CYTOTRON Therapy"), Accentrix
injection for Macular Eye disease and gadgets required for absolute fitness of
the Retirees and their spouse should be listed under IPD/ cashless treatment.
XXIX.
Robotic surgery should
be incorporated in the SAIL Mediclaim Scheme as it involves less blood loss and
convalescence and it is ideally suited for senior citizens.
XXX.
Full payment for all
types of MRI etc therapy like CYTOTRON Therapy, Treatment of Macular eye
disease with injection Avastin/ Lucentis/ Macugen should be fully payable and
not to be repudiated as age related disease, as treatment for other age-related
diseases like heart arterial or kidney dysfunction, knee/ hip replacement etc
is admissible.
XXXI.
Likewise, hearing (ear)
aid/ gadget should be admissible at least once in life time.
XXXII.
More procedures e.g. Cystoscopy,
Colonoscopy, Endoscopy, Bronchoscopy, ERCP/ MRCP and all types of MRI should be
brought under Day Care treatment.
XXXIII.
SAIL must honour the
terms and conditions as given in para 14 of the Appointment Order to its
employees for post-retirement free medicare to the Employees and the spouse.
XXXIV.
In VISL as of now
Mediclaim scheme is from 1998 onwards, however, it should be from 1989 onwards
since VISL became part of SAIL (subsidiary) in the year 1989.
XXXV. SAIL should include 'Cashless Everywhere' initiative by the General Insurance Council in future SMSRE https://sailex.blogspot.com/2024/04/cashless-everywhere-initiative.html
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