The Hindu : National : `Merger will not cause loss of jobs'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 18, 2007
ePaper

National

National

`Merger will not cause loss of jobs'

Vinay Kumar

Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

ADVANTAGE, EMPLOYEES: Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Ajay Prasad, Secretary (left), meeting the representatives of the Air Corporation Employees Union in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The Civil Aviation Ministry on Wednesday assured employees of the two State-owned carriers — Air India and Indian — that their planned merger would not involve retrenchment, cuts or losses in pay scale, perks or allowances.

In a meeting with representatives of employees of both the public carriers, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said fitments of the employees into the new entity would be done in such a manner that their service conditions would improve and they would continue to gain, an official statement said.

After the merger of Indian and Air India, the total strength of employees in the proposed new entity would go up to 33,000.

An independent redressal mechanism consisting of representatives from the Ministry, Airlines, Department of Personnel and Department of Public Enterprises would be set up. It would ensure that grievances, if any, were addressed expeditiously and in a fair and credible manner, the statement said.

Mr. Patel, who was mandated by the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) to hold talks with the employees, also explained the benefits of the proposed merger.

The Minister said the merger would provide maximum flexibility to achieve financial and capital restructuring through revaluation of assets and cleaning up of financial books. It would help serve and promote the airport hubs being developed at the metro cities, providing seamless domestic and international air connectivity.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National