SBCO & Foreign Post Update
The Great Merger
SBCO & FPO to Join General Stream
Merger of SBCO and Foreign Post (FPO) with General PA Cadre: Final Solution to “Isolated” Stagnation
- Cadres Involved: SBCO, Foreign Post, RLO
- Plan: Merge into General PA (PO) Stream
- Benefit: Access to wider promotion channel
- Status: Recommended by Committee
The Problem: “Small Pond, No Fish”
Employees in Savings Bank Control Organisation (SBCO) and Foreign Post Organisation (FPO) have suffered for years. Their cadre is so small that vacancies for promotion simply don’t exist.
Result: Most retire in the same grade they joined.
The Solution: Merger with General Stream
The 2026 Report proposes a decisive “Merger”.
✅ How the Merger Works
1. Common Seniority: The seniority list of SBCO/FPO staff will be dovetailed (merged) with the General Postal Assistant list of the Division/Circle.
2. Unified Duties: An SBCO PA can now work on Counter, and a Counter PA can work in Control.
3. Promotion Pool: SBCO staff become eligible for ALL LSG/HSG vacancies in the division, not just the 1 or 2 SBCO posts.
Why is this Controversial yet Necessary?
Some unions have opposed this in the past, fearing loss of specialized seniority. However, the Committee argues that “Digitization (CBS/CSI)” has made the specific role of SBCO redundant.
| Feature | Before Merger | After Merger (Proposed) |
|---|---|---|
| Job Role | Only Auditing/Checking | Any Postal Work (Versatile) |
| Promotion | Blocked (No Vacancies) | Fast (Pool of 40% LSG) |
| Transfer | Difficult | Easy (Rule 38 available widely) |
What Happens to Your Existing Service?
Don’t worry. Your past service will count. The merger will be prospective, but your “Qualifying Service” for pension and MACP will remain intact. The primary change is your Designation and Opportunity.