Wage Revision for BSNL Employees – Rajya Sabha QA

Wage Revision for BSNL Employees – Reason for not giving effect to wage revision despite many employees having taken VRS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2570
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2021

WAGE REVISION FOR BSNL EMPLOYEES

2570 SHRI M. SHANMUGAM:

Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state:

(a) when was wage revision last made in BSNL for its employees and since when it is due;
(b) the reason for not giving effect to wage revision despite many employees having taken VRS;
(c) by when the wage revision will be given effect to;
(d) whether the pension of retired employees would also be revised in view of persistent demand from them; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) to (c) Wage revision for executive & non-executive employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was made with effect from 01.01.2007. Next wage revision is due with effect from 01.01.2017. However, BSNL has been incurring losses since 2009-10. BSNL does not fulfil the criteria under affordability clauses as per Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines dated 03.08.2017 on pay revision in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) w.e.f. 01.01.2017. Therefore, the pay revision in BSNL has not been considered due to its poor financial condition and continuous losses. BSNL continues to incur loss despite many employees opting for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).

(d) & (e) Pension revision in case of BSNL IDA pensioners is intrinsically linked with pay revision of serving employees to avoid anomaly of pension amount between present and future retirees of the same status and grade. Accordingly, case of pension revision of employees permanently absorbed in BSNL will have to await implementation of 3rd Pay Revision Commission (PRC) in BSNL.

Source: Rajya Sabha