Air India forms panel to identify surplus staff

NEW DELHI: Air India’s northern regional office has formed a committee to identify the “redundant” or “surplus” employees who would be asked to go on a compulsory leave without pay (LWP) for up to five years.

An official order in this regard was issued on Tuesday.

Air India issued an internal order on July 14, asking its departmental heads and regional directors to identify the employees, based on various factors such as efficiency, health and redundancy, who will be sent on a compulsory LWP for up to five years.

Moreover, the national carrier had said the employees can voluntarily opt for the LWP scheme too.

PS Negi, regional director (RD), Northern Region, Air India, issued an order on July 21, stating that following the July 14 order, an empowered committee is being constituted for the identification of “redundant/surplus manpower resources”.

Negi’s order said the general manager (personnel), general manager (finance) and departmental heads will be the members of the empowered committee. It also said a representative of the RD can be co-opted in the committee, if required, on the basis of “case merit”.

“Gm(personnel) will share the staff list with all departments and convene the discussions/deliberations, including the process of identification of surplus/redundant resources. The report is to be submitted to the RD office by August 11, 2020, for a review and onward recommendation to the headquarters,” the order said.

The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All airlines in the country have gone for cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, LWP and firing of employees in order to conserve cash flow.

Air India has four regional offices—northern, western, eastern and southern.