THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Punching will be made compulsory for secretariat staff from January 1. GAD secretary has issued an order stating that those found absent from seats during office hours might face salary cut. It will be mandatory for all secretariat staff to wear identity cards during office hours. Those who do not have identity cards should obtain one by December 15.
The salary software Spark will be linked to punching sytem. Leave will be marked against those employees who arrive late or leave early continuously for three consecutive days. The Secretariat staff has been asked to stay put in office during duty hours, avoid misuse of mobile phones while in office and redress the grievances of the public on priority.
The punching system was introduced to ensure punctuality. It may be recalled that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his first address to Secretariat employees had asked, “What is the point in entering office after punching in the morning and moving out soon after? The Secretariat had a bad reputation on this front. It is felt that not many officials remain in their seats after coming to office in the morning. The LDF government has taken many decisions including proper guidelines for the transfer of staff and the government; improve file movement system and formation of State Civil Service.
