No job losses under GST: FinMin to CBEC

The finance ministry has assured Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) officers that there will be no reduction of manpower under the new goods and services tax (GST) regimeand the HR policy will be drafted after taking their views on board. In a meeting with the ministry last week, central excise officers flagged their concerns about use of technology and transfer of any assessees of excise and service tax to states under the new framework, leading to surplus manpower. “We flagged our concerns regarding surplus manpower and HR policy in the new regime. The board has assured us that there will be no manpower reduction. Also they have asked us to send our comments on human resource, which will be looked in to for framing of the policy,”Ravi Malik, secretary general, All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officers, told The association had earlier planned to hold dharna son October 14, but following the assurance from the board, it decided to shelve the plan. “We have demanded that the1.1million service tax assessees under the Centre should continue to remain with the Centre in the GST regime. The board has said the final decision will be taken in the next meeting of GST Council and we will decide on our future course of action after that,” Malik said. – www.business-standard.com[17-10-2016]