Bhubaneswar: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) employees are on a nationwide hunger strike today.
The Employees union of the government telecom company allege that company management is forcing them to take voluntary retirement (VRS).
Management Threatens:
Convener of All India Unions and Associations of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (AUAB) P. Abhimanyu on Sunday said that the management is threatening the employees.
They are being told that they may be sent away if they do not take VRS.
He also alleged that the management is threatening to reduce the retirement age to 58 years.
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Loss to Employees:
According to AUAB, more than half of the company’s employees are associated with it.
Abhimanyu said that employees will take VRS scheme as per their wish.
Employees should not be forced to take it since is not beneficial for the employees.
77 thousand employees of the Company have applied for VRS already.
There is a total of 1.50 lakh employees in BSNL.
According to the scheme, all these employees will retire from their respective positions on 31 January 2020.
Suggestions:
According to the plan, all permanent employees of the company, who are on deputation to another institution or department and have completed the age of 50 years, can apply for VRS.
BSNL Chairman and Managing Director PK Purwar said that this is the best VRS facility being provided by the government and BSNL and it should be viewed positively by the employees.
It is worth noting that the Central Government had given a revival package of Rs 69 thousand crore to BSNL and MTNL only last month.
MTNL has also introduced VRS scheme for its employees.
Ms Kalinga