Srinagar, May 14: The state cabinet, which met here Friday with the chief minister, Omar Abdullah in chair, empowered the cabinet sub-committee to hold negotiations with the JCC over their demands. The sub-committee would hold fresh round of talks with the employees’ representatives Saturday.
Sources told Greater Kashmir that the cabinet, which met here this morning in the wake of the renewed threat by the employees to resume strike, held threadbare discussion on the proposals of the sub-committee over the employees’ demands.
 As per the recommendations of the committee, the government will release 8 percent DA in cash to the employees, while 5 percent HRA will be increased in 3 instalments of 2 % in first two years and 1 percent in the third year. The Committee has also recommended the conversion of COLA into DA for all employees of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and removal of pay anomalies.
 The Cabinet gave full powers to the sub-committee to negotiate with the employees and consider their “genuine demands”, sources said. Sources however said the cabinet sub-committee didn’t table any written report before the cabinet.
 An official handout said the cabinet sub-committee briefed the cabinet about the discussions held on April 29 with the representatives of the employees on their key demands. The sub-committee, the handout said was asked to hold further discussions with the employees’ leaders on Saturday “with a view to take the process of dialogue further.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 IST