With warm regards,
--
Dr.V.N.Sharma, Chairman
|
Federation of
Retired SAIL Employees (Regd) (A Forum for the welfare of the Retired
Employees of SAIL)
|
A Brief for discussion with SAIL
1. 1. To recognize FORSE as the representative body of
SAIL Retirees and organize SAIL- FORSE
Apex Council meetings at least twice in a year or more if the situation so
warrants. (ONGC follows this practice of regular meetings with their retirees’
representatives.)
2. FORSE
representatives to be formally involved in all
stages of negotiations/ discussions with the Insurance Co./TPA etc.
during finalization of SAIL Mediclaim Policy/ Guidebook
3. To create a Nodal Office for SAIL Retirees at SAIL Corp Office and Plant Unit levels to
assist Retirees.
4.
SAIL
to discuss the issues related to Retirees only with FORSE representatives (not with other organisations).
5.
To formulate
schemes for monetary help to all those non-pensionable retirees in form of∞ monthly payment 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. and as has been detailed in various OMs
of DPE. Implementation of the recommendations of the 2nd Pay Revision Committee for retirement
benefits to pre-2007 retirees of SAIL and extension of healthcare facilities at
par with regular employees.
6. SAIL Chairman may
kindly take necessary action on his own and,
if need be, may take up the issues with the Hon’ble Union Minister of
Steel / Govt. of India to help whenever and wherever required
in implementing the DPE OMs for pre-2007 category of Retirees without
further delay by
i. Creating Corpus
out of 1.5% of PBT since 1st Jan 2007 (Based on the recommendation of 2nd PRC, Department of Public Enterprises
(DPE) issued number of OMs to all administrative Ministries/CPSEs. In the OM dt
26.11.2008 DPE followed by DPE OM NO. 2(81)/08-DPE(WC)GL-XVI/2011 DATED 20 JULY 2011 has communicated as
follows: “The Pension and Medical
Benefits can be extended to those
executives, who superannuated from the CPSEs and have
put in minimum of 15 years of service in the CPSE, prior to superannuation”. They also
asked Ministries/ CPSEs to create ‘Corpus’ at the rate of 1.5% of the Profit Before Tax (PBT). It was further clarified that it would pertain to
only pre-2007 )
ii. SAIL Management
to start the deposit scheme for the SAIL retired employees with interest
rate at par with that paid to the bankers/ financiers on borrowing money
from the market for its Modernisation / Expansion programmes.
iii. Permitting transfer of unclaimed Provident Fund money to the SAIL
corpus
iv. Transferring back 1% of the dividend money
7. To finalise and implement Pension Scheme for those retired on or after 1st January
2007 as early as possible (particularly in view of the fact that RINL has
done it).
8. Office space for FORSE in Kolkata and those in Plant/Unit locations for the Member
Associations.
9.
Leasing
of Houses in Steel Plant/ Unit Townships?
10. General
Plant/Unit wise issues
A.
To release payment of
arrears to employees of IISCO retired between 01.01.1997 and 31.01.2006 to be
done on urgent basis.
B. To
release payment of arrears to employees of SAIL Refractory Unit (erstwhile
Bharat Refractories Ltd) on urgent basis.
C. To
restore the benefit of leave encashment (beyond 300 days) to those who retired
between period 29.07.2013 to 28.12.2013 by withdrawing the OO dated 24th April
2014 issued by Corporate Office.
D. SAIL to extend without further delay the
benefit of SAIL Mediclaim Scheme/ Policy to those retired employees who
were barred because of some such order (like in VISL who retired before
01.01.2004).
E.
To develop real concern for the retired
employees and to look after their welfare as
part of corporate social responsibility.
F.
To strengthen channels of
communication for ventilating grievances
11.
Healthcare Issues – Suggestion for Improvement with the Guiding
Principle: To accept and enforce the guiding
principle of the Healthcare including mediclaim insurance “that it is a matter
of life and death leaving no chance for a repeat performance. So the benefit of
doubt should always be in favour of the patient and there can be no room for
laxity of any kind or slow action at any time at either end of the network of
SAIL, Insurance Co., the TPA and the patient.”
i.
SAIL must
develop a formula for incorporation of annual price rise in healthcare.
ii.
SAIL to pay
total subscription for renewal
of mediclaim membership (considering Healthcare of Retirees as CSR activity),
to make permanent I-card by SAIL, to complete negotiations and settling of
terms and conditions with Insurance Co. & the TPA by March-end every year
and to issue Guidebook to reach members by mid-April. (May be noted that the Guidebook and I-cards are still not
available to over 95 % of the Members)
iii.
Payment for
Mediclaim Insurance Bills by the
previous Insurance Co. and TPA held up without any reason.
iv.
To consider
the Healthcare of the retirees for self and spouse to be at par with
those for the current employees.
v.
SAIL, the
Mediclaim insurance Co. and the TPA each to create a Nodal Office in
their C.O. and Branch / Plant/ Unit Offices.
vi.
To increase OPD coverage of Rs.20,000/-per annum
jointly in respect of retired employee and spouse on floater basis.
vii.
To raise the upper limit to Rs. 4 lacs for
Cashless treatment/ IPD reimbursement for each member under floating (combining)
facilities (existing in RINL) and withdrawal of all cappings.
viii.
Renewal of lapsed mediclaim or not taken at the
time of superannuation: Anytime and every time
with a nominal charge.
ix.
To rationalize
the modalities of treatment and charging uniform rates for consultation for
retiree employees (and spouse) in plant hospitals and apportionment of all
charges for treatment in SAIL hospitals against the medical entitlements under
the scheme. SAIL Hospitals should also ensure availability of medicines prescribed
for OPD patients in the Hospital itself.
x.
Since
financial ceiling for OPD treatment is fixed and very low, treatment and
re-imbursement should be allowed by registered medical practitioners as per
SAIL existing rules as many of the retirees are staying in far flung areas of
the town / city and it is difficult for them to visit designated centers
thereby incurring high travelling expenses besides hassle and even paying
higher consultation fees.
xi.
Upgradation of the present Medical facilities with
review of present Healthcare Scheme and Malfunctioning of TPA.
a) In view of the fixed upper limit of cost of
treatment the Capping becomes redundant and hence needs to be withdrawn.
b)
Inclusion of Best serving
Hospitals for OPD and Indoor Cashless Treatment need 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
c) 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.
d) The TPA/ Insurer must ensure settlement of all
Bills for Re-imbursement within 15 days.
e) 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.
xii.
In case of widows/
widowers of the member total coverage should be allowed in case he/she agrees to
make full premium.
xiii.
The procedure
for filing claim in case of deceased person should be formulated and
incorporated in the booklet.
xiv.
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
xv.
Registered
Association/ Society should be authorized to deal on behalf of mediclaim
members.
xvi.
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.
