PANAJI
Efforts to regularise the services of casual workers and contractors, who have been working at Dabolim Airport for the last 30 years, have received a setback with the Centre stating that there has been no such proposal as yet.
In a reply to Rajya Sabha MP Luizinho Faleiro seeking to know if there is any proposal to regularise the services of employees working as casual workers/contractors at the Goa Dabolim Airport since 1992, Minister of State of Civil Aviation Gen V K Singh clarified that there was currently no such proposal.
Faleiro also sought to know the action taken to regularise the workers in view of Judgments/awards from the Central Government's industrial Tribunal dated May 30, 2000, order of High Court writ petition dated January 28, 2008, Order of Asst Labour Commissioner, Vasco dated August 16, 2012, and Order of Asst Labour Commissioner Central, Vasco dated December 20, 2012.
He also raised a query on when the orders of Asst Labour Commissioner Central, Vasco dated December 20, 2013, would be implemented.
In his reply to Faleiro, Gen Singh pointed out that with the disinvestment of Air India on January 27, 2022, there is no equity stake of the Government of India left in Air India and the airline became a private entity with effect from January 27, 2022, and the service conditions of the employees are regulated by the Airlines as per their own Rules and Regulations.
“As per the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) signed amongst Govt of India, Air India and M/s Talace Pvt Ltd, continuing liabilities and the liabilities on account of the cases disclosed in Virtual Data Room (VDR) continue with Air India, which is now owned by M/s Talace Pvt Ltd.”
“However, information was sought from Air India and Air India has informed that The Indian Airlines Karamchari Sangh (IAKS) filed Industrial Dispute and writ petitions before Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) Goa, CGIT, Mumbai, Bombay High Court.”
“Finding no relief, a special leave petition was also filed in the Supreme Court which was also dismissed by the Supreme Court vide the order dated January 17, 2011.”
“The orders of the Assistant Labour Commissioner dated August 16, 2012, and dated December 20, 2013, referred to in the Question are not found in the records of Air India,” the minister added.
