Ex-servicemen treated well in KSFE

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ex-servicemen deployed in KSFE work in good working environment at par with other permanent staff, said P Rajendran, Managing Director in-charge of KSFE, in a statement.Referring to the ‘Express’ report titled  ‘Virtual slavery for ex-servicemen in KSFE’  published on Friday, he said  ex-servicemen are employed in KSFE purely on temporary basis  as per the respective  contract agreement entered into between KSFE and Kerala State Ex-service League Security Organisation, Adharsh Security Division & Personal Services and Kerala State Defence Service Cooperative Housing Society Ltd. Rajendran said that they are entrusted with the work of assistants, peons and watchmen/security. The contract amount is made directly to the respective organisations and the individual payments are made by the organisation after deducting their commission.The organisations are liable for service tax on the income earned out of manpower supply.  In addition to the contract amount, we have been paying them festival allowance  regularly during Onam.  Also, we have treated them at par with our permanent staff for presenting valuable mementos in token of their service during the special chitty campaigns, he said. The present rate of contract amount agreed upon for deployment    of  the the ex-service men from July 1, 2011 is as follows: Assistants: Rs 7,000 per month,  peon: Rs 6,000 and watchman/security: Rs 5,500.  In addition to this, service tax is also paid together with the contract amount.  The present rate of service tax is 10.3 percent  As such the actual payout is: Assistants: Rs 7,720 per month, peon: Rs 6620 and watchman/security: Rs 6,060.The salary and service conditions including leave  in KSFE have been decided after applying scientific principles of HRD,  bilateral agreements and relevant provisions in KSR and KSSR. Obviously, these are not applicable to the members of outside agencies or cooperatives. The KSFE has excellent facilities in the office atmosphere. The ambience, security standards etc.  match the industrial standards in the financial sector. So the comparison, as made in the story, of the wages and allowances of ex-servicemen in KSFE with that of Home Guards and KSRTC  is not relevant, he said.