Tag Archives: wages

TSM, Casual, Contract Labours issues discussed with Director (HR) BSNL

27 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Major issues of the casual and contract workers in BSNL were discussed between the Joint Action Committee of BSNL Non-Executive unions with Director (HR) BSNL today, 27th June. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President and P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary represented BSNLEU. The following issues were discussed:

1.Regularisation of TSMs/Casual labour: The JAC demanded that all the left out TSMs/Casual labour be regularised at an early date, as was done in Income tax, Customs etc. on a one time basis. In this connection, the DOP and T orders can be followed. There are about 3,350 TSM/CL, most of them in W.Bengal. The Management continued their position that since the Supreme Court orders against regularisation is there, they can not be regularised.

2.Payment of minimum Wage and implementation of ESI, EPF etc. for contract workers: The JAC pointed out that the Govt. as well as BSNL orders are not being implemented at field level. They cited many examples. The management stated that they will issue again directives to the CGMs/GMs in this matter.

3. Revision of wages of the casual labour and TSM based on the IDA pay scale : JAC leaders pointed out that the TSM/Casual labour are at present paid only the minimum of the CDA scales and it should be revised to IDA scale. The management did not agree. The JAC also pointed out that even the revised minimum of the CDA is not being paid. This will be examined.

Is the wage burden, the reason for loss of BSNL?

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, ,

Whenever the DOT or BSNL Management is asked about the financial condition of BSNL, they immediately blame the wage bill of the huge workforce of BSNL. They will point out that the wage bill comes to about 50% of the expenditure or so. Next point will be to implement VRS for about one lakh workers so that the expenditure can be reduced and BSNL saved. Even in interview with the CMD BSNL, the Business Lines column writer has reported the CMD BSNL, mentioning the wage increase as one of the main reasons of the financial difficulties.
In the report of the Group of Ministers from BSNL, again the main reason for the financial difficulties is mentioned as huge wage bill coming up to 50% of the total expenditure.
All the above arguments are a fallacy to mislead the government and the public. Let us examine the points one by one.
1. Did the wage bill increase? No. The wage bill for 2009-10 was Rs. 13,455 crore, for 2010-11 Rs. 13,791 crore, for 2011-12 Rs. 13,406 crore and for 2012-13 Rs. 13,856 crore. One can see that there is no increase as such, but only small amount more or less each year.
2. The wage bill comes to 50% of the revenue: The wage bill has increased in %, not because of the actual increase of wages, but due to loss of revenue. The revenue came down drastically during the period mentioned above. While the revenue was Rs. 34,708 crore in 2009-10, it reduced to Rs. 29,686 crore in 2010-11, Rs. 27,933 crore in 2011-12 and to Rs. 26,396 in 2012-13. it is because of this drastic reduction in revenue that the % of wage bill has gone up. For example, if the revenue has up to Rs. 50,000 crore, the wage bill come to only between 25%-30%.
3. Who is responsible for the loss in revenue? Mainly it is the anti-PSU policy of the government. Secondly, it is the inept management. And thirdly a casual attitude of some workers.The government and management do not miss any chance to cite the example of the private companies, their work, profit etc. But they once again forget a important thing. In the private sector, when there is any loss, the management is fully responsible. The CMD and top officers resign on their own or are sent by the company making them responsible for the loss. But the same management which caused the loss continues without any stigma in BSNL.
4. What is the efficiency rate of the company management?: The rate is very low. None of the projects are completed in time. Whether the installation of 2199 towers in the 9 naxalite affected areas, The construction of the OFC lines for the Defence to enable them to release the spectrum, NOFN, BBNL etc. Everything in lagging behind. Who is responsible? The Management.

The Management and the Government should wake up from the slumber, instead of sleeping over the works and projects and sincerely and seriously attend to work. The workers are always ready to put all their strength for improving the situation so that BSNL can be saved and an efficient service provided.

BSNL Crisis – Not due to wage increase but due to less Revenue

13 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, ,

The government, BSNL Management, media and vested interests are continuously propagating that the crisis in BSNL is partly due to the increase in wages of employees which has shot up to 52% of the total revenue.
This propaganda is completely false and based on wrong premises. The fact is that for the last five years, there has not been any increase to be mentioned as such in the wages of the employees. Just go through the following figures showing the wages for the past few years:
2009-10 : Rs. 13455.04 crore, 2010-11: Rs. 13790.95 crore, 2011-12: Rs. 13406.04 crore, 2012-13 : Rs. 13757.82 crore
But the Revenue has been going down as can be seen below:
2007-2008: Rs. 32842.30 crore, 2008-09: Rs. 30169.42 crore, 2009-10: Rs.27913.44 crore, 2010-11: Rs. 27044.71 crore, 2011-12: Rs. 25982.13 crore, 2012-13: Rs. 25654.81 crore.
While the wage expense from 2009-10 to 2012-13 was almost the same with very minor difference, the revenue came down from 2007-08 to 2012-13 from Rs. 32842.30 crore to Rs.25654.81 crore,a reduction of more than Rs. 7,000 crore. If the revenue had increased or at least maintained its position, the percentage of wages should have been far less, say about 33%.
As stated earlier it is not that the wages have increased, but it is that the revenue has decreased. The Management and Government very well know this fact, but want to mislead the workers and public. But the workers are also aware of the facts.

Wage Agreement for Contract Workers in Coal.

19 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

,

For the first time in any industry, Coal India Limited (CIL) finally issued order on 18 February, 2013 for Payment of Minimum Wages and Implementation of Social Security Scheme for Contractors’ Workers as per agreement of 23 November, 2012.

Five central trade unions in coal, jointly and effectively, agitated the demands for contractors’ workers wages and social securities. After protracted negotiation, finally in a meeting of the unions with the minister of state for coal on 16 April 2010, it was agreed to constitute a high power committee with management’s and central trade unions’ representatives to examine and recommend the wages and social security measures for Contractors’ workers engaged in mining activities. A clause in wage agreement NCW-IX stated that the contractors’ workers’ wages and social security issues would be finalization separately. The recommendations of 23 August 2012 of the high power committee were finalized in the subsequent stadardization committee meeting and on that basis the implementation order was issued.

Basic Wage Structure of Contractors’ Workers

Categories of Employees Basic Rate (Per Day)

Unskilled Rs. 464.00
Semi- Skilled / Unskilled Supervisory Rs. 494.00
Skilled Rs. 525.00
HighlySkilled Rs. 554.00

The basic wages are effective retrospectively from 01.01.2013. In addition, variable dearness allowance (VDA) will be paid @, as notified by the central government in every April and October for non-coal mines workers, above 202.83 points, as was on 1.11.2012 (Base 2001).

Further, the contractors’ workers will get 10% of basic as underground allowance; PF as per CMPF Act; Bonus as per Bonus Act; Medical Facilities, both dispensary and OPD, like parmanent workers.(Courtesy: Working Class)