Sunday, January 13, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Flora and Fauna
Chimps on Treadmills
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Sockol and Raichlen compared how much energy humans and chimpanzees use while walking. Five chimpanzees were taught to walk upright on treadmills while wearing oxygen masks. Raichlen said that the training was done over four months, but only when the chimps were cooperating. "These guys are smart enough that they would hit the stop button on the treadmill when they were done. If they didn't want to walk on the treadmill, they'd just hit the stop button or they'd jump off."
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Sockol and Raichlen compared how much energy humans and chimpanzees use while walking. Five chimpanzees were taught to walk upright on treadmills while wearing oxygen masks. Raichlen said that the training was done over four months, but only when the chimps were cooperating. "These guys are smart enough that they would hit the stop button on the treadmill when they were done. If they didn't want to walk on the treadmill, they'd just hit the stop button or they'd jump off."
Saturday, January 5, 2008
C.Ex.Inspectors Assn recognised
It is the greatest news this week - the All India Central Excise Inspectors' Association (formerly AIFCEEO) has been granted recognition by the Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India. Recognition under the CCS (RSA) Rules has been one of the urgent pending issues for the organisation which is the fulcrum of the staff side of the Central Excise machinery.
After crossing numerous hurdles and non-cooperation of a few units, the organisation has achieved its goal of statutory recognition. Though recognition per se does not add any extra strength to the organisation, nevertheless, it provides a legal status to the organisation. Such status becomes mandatory in judicial fora. It is also sine qua non to advance certain demands before the Revenue Dept. It can also contain the disparate elements within the organisation and among the cadre.
Now that statutory recognition has been obtained, it is hoped that more members will take active part in the activities and make the organisation more vibrant and help it and other government employees and workers get their just demands accepted. Com Manimohan, Secy. General, AICEIA rightly states "Organisation should be recognised by its members first." The Central Board of Excise & Customs (C.B.E. & C.) known for its anti-staff attitude and policies, should reorient itself and begin a fresh chapter in striking a chord with its own employees.
After crossing numerous hurdles and non-cooperation of a few units, the organisation has achieved its goal of statutory recognition. Though recognition per se does not add any extra strength to the organisation, nevertheless, it provides a legal status to the organisation. Such status becomes mandatory in judicial fora. It is also sine qua non to advance certain demands before the Revenue Dept. It can also contain the disparate elements within the organisation and among the cadre.
Now that statutory recognition has been obtained, it is hoped that more members will take active part in the activities and make the organisation more vibrant and help it and other government employees and workers get their just demands accepted. Com Manimohan, Secy. General, AICEIA rightly states "Organisation should be recognised by its members first." The Central Board of Excise & Customs (C.B.E. & C.) known for its anti-staff attitude and policies, should reorient itself and begin a fresh chapter in striking a chord with its own employees.
Friday, January 4, 2008
State of affairs in Developed U.K.
Pension safeguards 'inadequate' - European court says Government failed thousands of workers
William Green
THOUSANDS of British workers who lost their pensions because of company insolvency received "inadequate" protection from the Government, a European court ruled yesterday.The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said the system in place prior to the establishment of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) was "incompatible" with European law.But the ruling fell short of demanding that workers receive direct recompense from the state, with the case now being returned to the UK courts to decide.The ECJ also stated that employees whose pension schemes went bust would not necessarily be entitled to full compensation – an implication that the current system does offer sufficient protection to workers.
The court's judgment will come as a relief to firms that had feared their annual contribution to the PPF would soar if the ECJ ruled compensation would have to be 100 per cent. But it will mean staff whose pension schemes went bust before the PPF was born in April 2005 are still in with a chance of some compensation.The ECJ ruling follows a case brought by trade unions Amicus and Community on behalf of pension scheme members at Allied Steel and Wire, which went bust in 2003. It found the Government system at that time was "incompatible with community law". The judgment also comes after more than 550 workers lost their jobs – and many their pensions as well – after the Hibernia Foods factory in Bridlington closed in January 2004.
The unions claimed the ruling as a victory. Derek Simpson, Amicus general secretary, said: "This judgment vindicates our decision to take this case all the way to the ECJ. We want the Government to reconsider its position. We believe that today's ruling demonstrates they have a moral obligation to reimburse the many thousands of people who ... have lost all or substantial parts of their pension savings."The case will now return to the High Court in London, which will decide if workers who lost out prior to the setting up of the PPF are entitled to compensation. But in a move that will allay the worst fears of UK firms the ECJ ruling implied the PPF did serve as a sufficient safety net for staff. Under the present system, members below retirement age only receive 90 per cent of their pension when they retire, with the amount capped at £26,050 every year.This appears to be in line with the ECJ ruling that member states will be given "considerable latitude which excludes an obligation to guarantee in full".
If the ECJ had called for a 100 per cent compensation level, UK firms could have seen their levy to the PPF rise by 500 per cent, analysts felt. In some cases, firms could have seen their levy rise 20-fold, leading to many going bust, experts said.The Department for Work and Pensions said yesterday's ruling was a "common sense" judgment that recognised current EU laws did not require states to ensure pensions were guaranteed in full.
William Green
THOUSANDS of British workers who lost their pensions because of company insolvency received "inadequate" protection from the Government, a European court ruled yesterday.The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said the system in place prior to the establishment of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) was "incompatible" with European law.But the ruling fell short of demanding that workers receive direct recompense from the state, with the case now being returned to the UK courts to decide.The ECJ also stated that employees whose pension schemes went bust would not necessarily be entitled to full compensation – an implication that the current system does offer sufficient protection to workers.
The court's judgment will come as a relief to firms that had feared their annual contribution to the PPF would soar if the ECJ ruled compensation would have to be 100 per cent. But it will mean staff whose pension schemes went bust before the PPF was born in April 2005 are still in with a chance of some compensation.The ECJ ruling follows a case brought by trade unions Amicus and Community on behalf of pension scheme members at Allied Steel and Wire, which went bust in 2003. It found the Government system at that time was "incompatible with community law". The judgment also comes after more than 550 workers lost their jobs – and many their pensions as well – after the Hibernia Foods factory in Bridlington closed in January 2004.
The unions claimed the ruling as a victory. Derek Simpson, Amicus general secretary, said: "This judgment vindicates our decision to take this case all the way to the ECJ. We want the Government to reconsider its position. We believe that today's ruling demonstrates they have a moral obligation to reimburse the many thousands of people who ... have lost all or substantial parts of their pension savings."The case will now return to the High Court in London, which will decide if workers who lost out prior to the setting up of the PPF are entitled to compensation. But in a move that will allay the worst fears of UK firms the ECJ ruling implied the PPF did serve as a sufficient safety net for staff. Under the present system, members below retirement age only receive 90 per cent of their pension when they retire, with the amount capped at £26,050 every year.This appears to be in line with the ECJ ruling that member states will be given "considerable latitude which excludes an obligation to guarantee in full".
If the ECJ had called for a 100 per cent compensation level, UK firms could have seen their levy to the PPF rise by 500 per cent, analysts felt. In some cases, firms could have seen their levy rise 20-fold, leading to many going bust, experts said.The Department for Work and Pensions said yesterday's ruling was a "common sense" judgment that recognised current EU laws did not require states to ensure pensions were guaranteed in full.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Coldest Day in Delhi
Today (2nd Jan 2008) is the coldest day of the season so far with mercury touching 1.9'C as I type this piece. Weatherman says the night temperature is likely to be around 1'C for a few days. Last year the minimum temperature did not dip below 2'C but then this year it's becoming bit unbearable. Of course, after a week things will improve.
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