The employees association of the largest life insurer in India, life Insurance Corporation of India (lIC), has reiterated their demand to get 2-days weekly off for all the staff in the country. “The demand for 5-days per week for lIC employees is pending with the Government for over two years. The lIC management has been pursuing it for a long time from now, but lIC can’t take any decision of its own. The federation has reiterated its demand for 5-days a week,” said Arvind Nachane, working president of lIC Employees Union Federation.
Recently, the Government sources had hinted that lIC employees would get an off on the second and fourth Saturdays of a month with the Government approving their long-standing demand. This indication came in line with the practice followed for public sector banks.
However, lIC Chairman VK Sharma, while addressing a group of lIC employees recently also said, “This demand is pending for almost over two years without any visible progress which is culminated into a widespread discontent and agitation among all classes of employees and officers.”
He further asked why the Government has not paid heed to the demand of 5-days per week and pension option. “I own the responsibility. Also, why did it not give pension to usIJ Yes, as being your representative of lIC, I can say that I own the responsibility. It is my job to fight for this and once again, I will put this demand before the Government,” he added.
As per sources, the Government has made changes in the Negotiable Instruments Act enabling employees of the lIC to get holiday on a par with public sector banks. “The business would not be affected as the other remaining Saturdays were full working days. In case of a month having five Saturdays, lIC will be closed only on the second and fourth Saturdays,” it said.
As of now, Saturday is a half working day for lIC staff. So, instead of four half working days on Saturday, they will get two offs and the remaining Saturdays of the month as full working days.