chief
Prime VIP
Patiala, July 5
The PSEB Engineers’ Association has decided to launch an agitation against the failure of the State and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Powercom) management to fulfil assurances given by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the time of unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board.
Association president HS Bedi said the action plan would be announced soon.
Bedi said: “Before restructuring the PSEB, Badal assured the engineers /employees that their services and pension benefits would be protected in the new set up. They were told that a tripartite agreement between the State, management of companies and the association would be immediately signed after the Cabinet decides to unbundle the board, as has been done in all other states.”
Bedi rued that even after nearly three months, the process has not begun. He said the HP Government, which started this process last month, had not only signed the agreement but got the transfer scheme notification approved too, assuring common seniority, no further unbundling of corporations and guarantee for salary/pension.
Association general secretary Bhupinder Singh said the tripartite agreement was of paramount importance since financial status of the State and the board’s successor companies was bad. “The board had utilised over Rs 1,800 crore from the Employees’ Provident Fund and the State had neither created a statutory fund/trust nor has extended any solemn guarantee for payment of retirement benefits or provident fund withdrawal,” he added.
The PSEB Engineers’ Association has decided to launch an agitation against the failure of the State and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (Powercom) management to fulfil assurances given by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the time of unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board.
Association president HS Bedi said the action plan would be announced soon.
Bedi said: “Before restructuring the PSEB, Badal assured the engineers /employees that their services and pension benefits would be protected in the new set up. They were told that a tripartite agreement between the State, management of companies and the association would be immediately signed after the Cabinet decides to unbundle the board, as has been done in all other states.”
Bedi rued that even after nearly three months, the process has not begun. He said the HP Government, which started this process last month, had not only signed the agreement but got the transfer scheme notification approved too, assuring common seniority, no further unbundling of corporations and guarantee for salary/pension.
Association general secretary Bhupinder Singh said the tripartite agreement was of paramount importance since financial status of the State and the board’s successor companies was bad. “The board had utilised over Rs 1,800 crore from the Employees’ Provident Fund and the State had neither created a statutory fund/trust nor has extended any solemn guarantee for payment of retirement benefits or provident fund withdrawal,” he added.
