There will be no retrenchment of employees by state-owned carrier Air India, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said in Hyderabad on Thursday. The statement came minutes after his ministry spokesman said in New Delhi that the airline would offer three to four years' leave without pay to about 15,000 employees instead.
"There will be no retrenchment in Air India," Patel told reporters on the sidelines of a conference organised as part of India's first civil aviation show India Aviation 2008.
A civil aviation ministry spokesperson said in New Delhi that Air India would not retrench staff, but could offer leave without pay for three to four years to 15,000 employees.
Those who take up the offer would be taken back if they wished, at the same designation and the last drawn salary, he added.
"Nacil (National Aviation Co of India Ltd that owns Air India) is not mulling any layoff. We are considering offering three to four years leave without pay package to people who opt for it; 15,000 employees are eligible," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Air India's total staff strength is around 23,000.
In Hyderabad, Patel said he hoped state governments would ensure there would be no law and order problems following the retrenchment of 1,900 employees announced by Jet.
16/10/08 IANS/The Hindu
Friday, October 17, 2008