Monthly Archives: November 2019

About VRS in BSNL

18 Monday Nov 2019

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, BSNLEU

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About VRS itself:
1. No one needs to have any doubt about the intention of Voluntary Retirement Scheme in BSNL. It is not for the benefit of employees, but is a tool to reduce the number of workers in preparation for privatisatiion. The strikes and agitations in the privatised PSUs like VSNL, ITDC hotels, BALCO etc against retrenchment have taught a lesson, making tbe corporates to insist that the govt should reduce the workforce before privatisation.
2. VRS is a clear strategy of govt to reduce pension expenses in future. If an employee retires on superannuation, clear rules exist for Dearness Relief, Pension Revision, Family Pension etc. It is not clear for the pension on VRS. There are many grey areas. In this connection refer to the Supreme Court judgment in another case that VRS is a package by itself and revision of pension is not included.
3. Past experience of VRS in MTNL etc has shown that post VRS, services could not improve due to consequent shortage of staff and revenue decreased, resulting in loss.
4. By spending Rs.17,000 crore for VRS now, govt is expecting to reduce pension expences of the VRS retiress by lakhs of crores of rupees for the ensuing many decades.
5. If the VRS amount is for Revival of BSNL, why the govt all these years did not spend a single paise from the tax payers’ money for BSNL?
6.. Even when 60 or 65 years, employees are capable of doing their work efficiently, just like businessmen, politicians, self employed etc. While employed one gets more respect, more income, more energy and better health. Unless you are engaged in some way after retirement, situation is different.
7. Comparatively one may get more money at the time of retirement on VRS, than on superannuation. But one has to pay Incometax for the same, which will be a substantial amount.
8. Higher bank interest as eligible for senior citizens will not be eligible for VRS optees (till they are 60).
9. The govt, management, media, corporates through adverse propaganda has created a situation of insecurity in the minds of the employees. Non payment of wages for contract labour for about one year, delay in payment of salary to employees, statements of NITI Ayog and Finance Ministry about closure/ privatisation of BSNL, nonremittance to GPF, loans etc, etc has created fear about their future in BSNL, compelling them to think about option to VRS. Decision taken during mass hysteria need not always be the best.
10. Employees should ponder about all these as also calculate what they will get in comparison with what they will get on superannuation and later etc etc. The conditions of VRS have to be thoroughly studied.

No body should be victims of the pitfalls of VRS. One decade back when VRS package was offered in BSNL for one lakh workers ie. 50% of employees, not even 1% took it.
And they are very happy about their decision inview of higher pension, pension revision etc.

This note is not comprehensive, but only a few general points about the present VRS.
63Balu Melethil, Smitha Soman and 61 others

One more BSNL contract worker commits suicide – No wage for 10 months – BSNL, Centre responsible.

07 Thursday Nov 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, General, Uncategorized

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Again very very sad news.

CCom. Ramakrishnan, a BSNL contract labour in Kerala, put an end to his life by committing suicide in the Telephone Exchange,Nilambur, where he was working. Wages were not paid to him for the last 10 months as in the case of other contract workers. He is a differently abled worker and was somehow managing his family with the low wage being paid. Now even that wage is not paid for 10 months. His wife has no job and they are having two children. The mental agony being unable to look after the family might have made him to commit suicide.

This is the 7th suicide by BSNL contract workers in the country after the BSNL stopped paying wages on the plea of no funds. Even after these suicides, neither the government, nor the BSNL has taken any steps to pay the wages. Further, more and more contract workers are being retrenched. The Chief Labour Commissioner has directed the CMD BSNL to pay the wages but BSNL has not implemented so far. It was reported that the DOT has asked BSNL to pay the delayed salaries of the ITS officers immediately. The govt is worried about only the ITS and not others.

The government, which write off lakhs of crores rupees of NPAs of the corporates, reduce the income tax % of the corporates has no money to pay the wages of the poor contract workers who have worked for years together to give better service to the people. The govt can allot funds to retrench employees through VRS, but no funds to pay wages! It shows that the govt is not at all worried about the condition of the poor contract workers.

We strongly protest and demand the govt and the BSNL Management to urgently pay the wages with arrears to all the contract workers. Suitable compensation should be given to the family of the deceased.

The contract workers in Kerala and elsewhere are on strike and on various forms of struggles for the last many months. The govt and BSNL management is looking the other way. This is nothing but inhuman.

We express our deep sorrow in the tragedy. We convey our condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades.