Pact reached on fringe benefits for VSP staff

Employees (S-9 grade and above) of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant will now get car allowance of Rs.2,000 per month.

This was among the many fringe benefits for which an agreement was signed on Tuesday in New Delhi between the management and the unions following two-day talks by the sub-committee set up by National Joint Committee of Steel to consider the demands.

The benefits will be available with effect from December 1, 2009, according to deputy general secretary of Visakha Steel Workers' Union (recognised union of VSP) V. Dhanaraju.

The decisions taken would benefit some 13,500 employees.

According to Mr. Dhanaraju, the employees' eligibility to draw house building advance has been enhanced from Rs.8 lakhs to Rs.15 lakhs.

The employees will get Rs.300 per month for gas cylinder, scooter/motorcycle allowance of Rs.1,000 instead of Rs.575, moped allowance of Rs.630 instead of Rs.360 and revised night shift allowance of Rs.90 a day.

For employees not having vehicles, the management will give Rs.24 a day towards transport.

CUG (common users group) will be introduced for the employees for effective communication among them on mobile phones.