In many circles and SSAs the casual and contract workers are compelled to go on struggles to get the orders of the government and BSNL Corporate office implemented with regard to the payment of minimum wage, implementation of social security measures like EPF and ESI etc. They are also demanding the reinstatement of workers who have been retrenched due to participation in strikes and other agitations.
While the BSNL corporate office states that they have got reports from the circles that all orders have been implemented all over India, the facts are otherwise. These violations of the orders have been brought to the notice of the corporate office several times with the name of circle, SSAs, names of the workers, what they are being paid, what they should be paid, whether EPF, ESI are implemented or not and the name of contractors etc. But the corporate office is also maintaining a stoic silence. This make it clear that the corporate office does not want to interfere and make the field level officers implement the orders.
It is a shame that these well educated and highly paid officers do not feel it their duty to ensure that these low paid and hard working labour who contribute much to the maintenance of the telephone system are meted out justice and the exploitation of these workers are put an end to. It is a shame that in some places they are collaborating with the contractors whose interest is only to maximise their profit through whatever means.
The BSNL Management should once again think over and decide whether it wants to continue the corruptive practices and exploitation or become a pro-worker management implementing the law of the land and government instructions as well as its own orders.