It is a great victory for the
BSNLCCWF and the casual and contract workers!
The Federation as well as BSNLEU
has been demanding that for the casual and contract workers EPF should be
implemented from at least 01-10-2000. After much efforts, the BSNL
Management had implemented EPF for casual workers from 10-01-2011. In
many places EPF was not implemented to the contract workers.
These along many other issues
were taken by the BSNL Casual & Contract Workers Federation with the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and also the Central Provident Fund
Commissioner, New Delhi. The representatives gave detailed evidence before
Parliamentary Standing Committee with full documents. The EPF Commissioner held
meeting with the President BSNLCCWF and Officers of BSNL on this. Accordingly
the EPF Commissioner (Central) issued a strong letter dated 22-04-2015 to BSNL
asking them to implement EPF to casual labours w.e.f.01-10-2000 (the date of
formation of BSNL) retrospectively. It was also directed that wherever, EPF is
not implemented for contract workers, it should be implemented as per EPF Act.
Now today, 18-05-2015, the
BSNL C.O. has issued the orders directing the CGMs to immediately take action
for implementing EPF for casual labours w.e.f. 01-10-2000 and also implement
EPF for contract workers, wherever it is not implemented so far. Not only the
EPF contributions will be made by BSNL management, but interest also will have
to be paid, which will benefit the workers. The EPF with
retrospective effect from 2000 will benefit the existing 3469 casual
labours.
The mammoth CMD Office March
on 15th October 2014 and the Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 by the
Casual & Contract Workers have not been in vain. At least one of the
important demands has been settled.
It is a land mark victory for
the casual and contract workers! Congratulations to all our comrades who stood
strongly with the organisation and participated in the struggles!
//copy// VAN