Tata Power says no job cuts for 15,300 contract workers in Odisha

Tata Power runs four electricity distribution companies, called discoms, in Odisha.

These companies deliver power to homes and businesses across the state.

Now, contract workers are protesting. They fear they will be retrenched, which means losing their jobs.

The company says this fear is not true.

At a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Gajanan S. Kale, CEO of TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL), made the promise.

He said none of the 15,300 contract employees will lose their jobs.

Key points

• Tata Power says no contract worker will be retrenched in Odisha.
• Only 374 employees were picked for a routine redeployment, or move to new duty locations.
• Nearly 200 of them have already joined their new locations.
• The company has set November 15 as the final deadline to return to work.

So what is the company actually doing with these workers?

The company says the move is a routine administrative exercise.

It is being carried out through Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) vendors.

The company says this follows applicable government guidelines and regulatory rules.

Kale said there has been no retrenchment, and no employee will be retrenched.

Kale also dismissed rumours of large-scale job cuts. He said such stories are not based on facts.

Why are workers protesting, and what is their demand?

The workers are protesting because they fear losing their jobs. The company has not said what the protesters are demanding.

The company has issued three notices asking them to withdraw their agitation and resume duties.

It has also asked Business Associates to counsel the workers.

So what happens if workers do not return?

If workers fail to report by November 15, the Business Associates will have to make alternative arrangements.

The aim is to keep electricity services running without a break.

The company says its contract workforce in Odisha has grown from around 6,000 in 2020 to more than 15,300 now.

The combined workforce across the four discoms is over 55,000.

The company says it will keep power supply reliable for nearly one crore consumers across Odisha.

Sources

• Deccan Chronicle: Tata Power Assures No Job Cuts for 15,300 Contractual Workers in Odisha