Category Archives: BSNLCCWF – Casual and Contract workers

Letter from BSNLCCWF to Communications Minister on wages of contract labour

11 Saturday Apr 2020

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BSNL CASUAL AND CONTRACT WORKERS’ FEDERATION
K.G. Bose Bhawan,
28 / 64 Block, West Patel Nagar, New Delhi – 110 008
Web: http://www.bsnlccwf.com / E-mail:bsnlccwfchq@gmail.com
President:-V.A.N. Namboodiri 9868231431
Secretary General:-Animesh Mitra 09433009450

No. BSNLCCWF/Wages/2020 Dated: 03.04.2020

To,
Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad,
Hon’ble Minister for Communications,
Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Asoka Road,
New Delhi -110 001.
Sir,
Sub. : – Non-payment of 10 months’ wage arrears of BSNL contract workers – reg.
We wish to bring the following burning issue to your kind notice, for favour of necessary intervention please.
The nation is passing through an unprecedented crisis due to the COVID-19. The crisis has brought a more serious
situation to the casual and contract workers. The Labour Ministry, as well as the Finance Ministry, have issued
serious instructions a week ago, advising that the contract workers should not suffer from non-payment of wages,
on account of lock-out, lay-off and also due their absence from work, in view of the lock-down. All these instructions
only show that the government is very particular that the workers belonging to the downtrodden section should not
suffer in a situation when the nation is facing a crisis from COVID-19.
However, we are constrained, as well as extremely saddened, to bring to your kind notice that, the contract workers
in BSNL have not been paid wages for the past 10 months. Despite non-payment of wages for such an unusually
prolonged period, the contract workers continue to work, contributing to the uninterrupted and efficient maintenance
of BSNL’s networks.
It is true that these contract workers have to be paid only by the contractors who have engaged them. However, the
contractors could not pay the wages, in view of the fact that the BSNL Corporate Office has not allotted funds to the
circles for the payment of the bills of the contractors. The net result is that, the contractors have not paid wages to
the contract workers for the past 10 months.
In the present scenario, when the government is issuing various instructions to ensure that the vulnerable sections
of the people do not suffer, we deem it appropriate to bring to your kind notice that, all the instructions of the
government are thrown to the winds, so far as the contract workers of BSNL are concerned.
Under these circumstances, we earnestly implore upon you to kindly ensure that, necessary funds are immediately
released by the BSNL Corporate Office, so that the contract workers are paid their wage arrears, which remains
pending for the past 10 months.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(Animesh Mitra)
Secretary General.

Copy to:(1) Shri Anshu Prakash, Secretary, Telecom, DoT, Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Asoka Road, New Delhi -110 001.
(2) Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110001
(3) Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110001

The delay in payment of wages and arrears of wages to BSNL contract workers is a crime to humanity.

10 Friday Apr 2020

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Despite all out efforts on the part of BSNLCCWF, BSNLEU and AIBDPA and agitations, it is disheartening that the BSNL management has not cleared funds for the payment of wages to about 40,000 – 50,000 contract workers through out India for the last more than one year. Contract workers belong to the lowest paid employees and they manage to live literally from hand to mouth. Whatever savings, if any, has all been gone. They are unable to return the money taken on loan to manage their lives. No money to purchase dress for their children. They are living in real hell.
The issue was several times raised in the Parliament by many Honorable Members of Parliament belonging to different parties, including that of the ruling party. But still no action.

BSNL is not allotting funds on the plea of lack of funds. At one time it was a fact. But now the salary of the employees are paid upto date, including the highly paid officers, the bank loans are being paid, the payment to societies are made etc. etc. But still no payment to contract workers.

The BSNL expenditure has been got reduced for the last two months due to the VRS and retirement of about 80,000 workers. There might be savings of about Rs. 1,200 crore at the lowest.
The DOT and BSNL management should not become inhuman towards its workers. This is Covid 19 period and the suffering has increased.

DOT and BSNL Management should ensure that the wages along with arrears are paid at the earliest.

Shri A.Ganesha Murthy, M.P. Erode, writes to Communications Minister of Contract workers.

08 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Shri A.Ganesha Murthy, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Erode, T.Nadu has written to Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communication Minister about the non-payment of wages to the contract workers and requesting to release funds for payment to the concerned contract workers.

Thanks Shri Ganesha Murthy!

Payment of wages to contract workers with arrears .

08 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Coms. Elamaram Kareem, M.P., K.K.Ragesh M.P., P.R.Natarajan M.P. and some other M.P.s on our request had taken up the issue of contract workers in BSNL, with regard to their wages, retrenchment etc. in the Parliament through questions as well as raising the point in the Zero hour. These interventions have been posted in this blog earlier.

Since the issues have not been settled, I once again contacted the M.P.s/ their offices and requested to take up the issues with the government, especially in view of the Covid 19 situation. They assured that the matters will be urgently taken. Thanks.

Payment of wages to casual, contract, Part-time workers in BSNL during Corona Lock Down Period.

04 Saturday Apr 2020

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Payment of wages to casual, contract, Part-time/Daily workers during Corona Lock Down Period.

Dept. of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, OM F.No.23 (4)/E. Coord/202O/I dated 23/3/2020 stipulates that casual, contract and outsourced workers in different Depts., who will not be able to attend office in view of present Lock Down for Covid-19 prevention, shall be treated as on duty and during such period of absence, necessary pay/ wages would be paid to them accordingly to avoid their hardship in this crisis. This OM shall apply till 30th April 2020.

Contract workers in BSNL, who are working maintaining the essential telecom services throughout the country are not paid wages for the last one year. BSNL is a fully govt owned company. They should be paid the arrears of wages as also wages on the basis of the present order,even if they are not working at present.

Pay wages to contract workers – Message to Shri P.K.Purwar, CMD BSNL

03 Friday Apr 2020

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The e-mail sent to Shri P.K.Purwar, CMD BSNL on the issue of payment of wages to contract workers.

Dear Shri Purwarji,

Good Morning!
You will be extremely busy in dealing with the serious and difficult situation being faced by BSNL in the post- VRS scenario as well as COVID – 19. Hence, I don’t want to take much of your valuable time.
Only one thing I want to request. The 40,000 and contract workers engaged through contractors are in dire situation without wages for about one year. 10 workers have committed suicide, unable to bear the agony of not being able to feed their families. The situation is very pathetic.
I am happy to note that salary payment is being made update for employees.
In the same way, you may kindly take immediate action to pay wages with arrears to the contract workers so that they can sustain their families. In this connection, you may kindly refer to the Govt of India instructions with regard to payment of wages to casual contract workers.
Expecting immediate action,

Yours Sincerely,
V.A.N.Namboodiri,
President, BSNLCCWF. dated 31st March 2020.

Casual Contract Labour issue raised in Parliament by Com.K.K.Ragesh, M.P. (Kerala) on 29-11-2019 supported by many other M.P.s

02 Thursday Apr 2020

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Casual Contract Labour issue raised in Parliament by Com.K.K.Ragesh, M.P. (Kerala) on 29-11-2019 supported by many other M.P.s

NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES TO CASUAL CONTRACT LABOURERS OF B.S.N.L.,

KERALA SHRI K.K. RAGESH (KERALA): Hon. Chairman, Sir, the casual contract labourers of BSNL have not been paid wages for the last ten months. Last month, in Kerala, two workers committed suicide due to non-payment of wages. One Ramakrishnan, an employee working as a sweeper in BSNL, after completing all his work, committed suicide inside the office as he had not been paid wages for the last ten months by BSNL. Not just in Kerala, but throughout the country, casual contract labourers in BSNL have committed suicide. Ten such workers have already committed suicide in our country. I would request the Government to listen to the agony of casual contract labourers, because yesterday the hon. Minister while responding to the issue said that it was due to the contractors. In fact, BSNL did not pay the contractors and that is why contractors were not in a position to pay the workers. Apart from non-payment of wages to the workers, massive retrenchment is also going on. The Government had decided to reduce 80 per cent of the regular workers and also 50 per cent of the contract workers. That means, regular workers are compelled to take VRS and one lakh jobs have already been lost. Fifty per cent of the contract labourers have been asked not to work. Then, who would work, Sir?

MR. CHAIRMAN: What is your suggestion?

SHRI K.K. RAGESH: I don’t know if BSNL is going to be wound up. My point is that since the inception of BSNL, thousands of contract workers have been working on meagre wages. We don’t know what would be the future of those poor workers. I would request the Government to intervene immediately and ensure payment of wages to the BSNL workers, which is due for the last ten months. Otherwise, we would be witnessing mass suicides among the poor casual contract workers.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Let us not hope such a thing happens.

SHRI T.K. RANGARAJAN (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI TIRUCHI SIVA (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member
SHRI B.K. HARIPRASAD (KARNATAKA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI JOSE K. MANI (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
PROF. MANOJ KUMAR JHA (BIHAR): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI SUBHASISH CHAKRABORTY (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRIMATI VIJILA SATHYANANTH (TAMIL NADU): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI BINOY VISWAM (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI AHAMED HASSAN (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI ELAMARAM KAREEM (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member.
SHRI K. SOMAPRASAD (KERALA): Sir, I too associate myself with the matter raised by the hon. Member. (End)

Contractual, Casual Staff will be Paid wages during COVID 19 Lockdown Period

28 Saturday Mar 2020

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Govt of India, Ministry of Finance has issued orders that contractual, casual and outsourced staff required to stay at home in view of Lock Down will be treated as ‘duty’ and payment made. BSNL should immediately pay the contract workers their wages at present as of the past one year. Order is given below:

March 24, 2020 admin

Contractual, casual and outsourced staff is required to stay at home in view of lockdown order regarding COVID-19 prevention and they shall be treated as “on duty” during such period of absence and necessary pay/wages would be paid accordingly

F.No.23(4)/E.Coord/2020/1
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated: 23.03.2020

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Payment of wages to outsourced persons of Ministries / Departments and other organizations of Government of India during lockdown period due to COVID-19

As part of social distancing and isolation measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country, various State/UT Governments have announced lockdown at different places. Instructions have been separately issued by DOP&T regarding maintenance of essential services in Ministries / Departments.

Due to these measures, there is a likelihood of a number of contractual, casual and outsourced staff such as house-keeping staff etc. being required to stay at home, which under normal circumstances would result in deduction in their pay/wages. In order to avoid any undue hardships under the prevailing extraordinary circumstances, it has been decided that wherever any such contractual, casual and outsourced staff of Ministries / Departments and other organizations of Government of India, is required to stay at home in view of lockdown order regarding COVID-19 prevention, as announced by various States /UT Governments, they shall be treated as “on duty” during such period of absence and necessary pay/wages would be paid accordingly.

These instructions shall also apply to Attached/Subordinate Offices, Autonomous / Statutory Bodies of Government of India.

These instructions shall apply till 30th April, 2020.

Pay wages of BSNL contract workers with arrears

23 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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After implementation of VRS for 78569 employees by BSNL, the PSU has made good savings monthly. The salaries of February 2020 which was in pending for the employees will be shortly paid and by next month, the salary will be paid in time as per management’s statement. Well and good!

What about the wags of the contract workers which have not been paid for the last one year ? 10 workers have committed suicide unable to bear the pain of seeing their families starved. We demand the management that now the position of BSNL is improving, do not delay the payment of wages to the workers. The one year wages be paid at the earliest.

20th Birth Anniversary of BSNLEU on 22nd March 2020.

20 Friday Mar 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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(File Photo, Visakhapatnam Conference 22-3-2001)

BSNL Employees Union is completing 19 years of its fruitful existence on 22nd March 2020. It is BSNLEU’s 20th Foundation day.

BSNL Employees Union, the majority recognised union of the BSNL workers, was formed on 22nd March 2001, in the National Convention of eight telecom unions held at Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Com. E.Balanandan, President of CITU and one of the greatest working class leaders India has seen.

Though started with about 50,000 – 60,000 workers, it grew to be the biggest union in BSNL with more than one lakh workers, despite the fact that there was no recruitment and thousands were retiring every year. This was a herculean task, but the united team of the BSNLEU leadership made the ‘impossible in to possible.’

BSNLEU, as the recognised union separately, and also jointly with other unions, both executive and Non-executives, defeated the nefarious designs of the central government, both NDA and UPA, to disinvest BSNL, unbundle the precious copper cables and so on. BSNLEU took the initiative to form the Joint Forum of the Unions and Associations, under which organisation, the battles were fought and the anti-worker decisions of the government defeated.

BSNL and its workers are  facing serious challenges to their existence. The neo-liberal policy initiated by the Congress government in 1991 and aggressively being implemented by  the present BJP government is making it difficult for the PSUs to sustain and grow. In the name of Revival Plan, 78569 employees have been compelled to take VRS in BSNL. Their many problems are there.  4 G Spectrum is still not allotted.Pension Revision is also delayed, without any justification.

The two associations, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF formed at the initiative of BSNLEU has grown and strengthened. But the wages for the contract workers have not been paid for about one year. The demands of the workers, the pensioners and the casual contract labours are interconnected and inseparable. That is why united struggle.

It is in this situation that the  20th Foundation Day of BSNLEU  is coming. This time, there may not be much celebration, meetings etc on mass scale, due to the COVID -19 impact. But let us remember our past struggles and sacrifices so that we can advance with more vigour, determination and strength. BSNL has to be saved and improved to give better service to the nation!

BSNLEU ZINDABAD!

WORKERS UNITY ZINDABAD!