BSNL turns to contract labour to run the shop

Thrissur: Following the retirement of employees en bloc, BSNL’s change of policy could put out casual labourers too, forcing the national behemoth to try job contract.

The move could adversely affect thousands of workers on labour contract. The situation is changing for worse as uncertainty looms over their ten months’ salary arrears.

Following the mass voluntary retirement of employees, BSNL changed policy on outsourcing in order to streamline works at lines and exchanges. However,  BSNL is still the employer.  

As a result, BNSL has a responsibility to give away the pay, giving hopes to workers that arrears will be paid.

The new policy is meant to hire job instead of labourer, enabling the contractor to use any number of workers, and BNSL will have no say on it.  This could in effect lead to exploitation, and also longtime contractors will be expelled.

All switching areas have been given details of new order, and tender procedures are on for new outsourcing contracts.

So far workers were paid for the works done; now on revenue will be shared by BSNL and contractor.