A joint delegation representing the National Federation of Government Employees (NFGE) and the Public Sector Employees National Confederation (PSENC) met with the Defence Minister at his residence office today.
The meeting focused on various issues affecting employees in Defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), including pension increases, promotions, and the status of former Ordnance Factory employees.
The Government Employees National Federation (GENF) and the Indian Defence Workers Union (IDWU) highlighted the situation of Ordnance Factory employees who transitioned from government employee status on October 1, 2021.
The unions urged the Defence Minister to grant these employees the same status as Prasar Bharati employees, ensuring they receive government employee benefits like medical care, pension, and promotions until retirement.
They reminded the minister of the Defence Ministry's written assurance in the Delhi High Court to protect the service conditions of these employees.
The Defence Minister assured the delegation that no injustice would be done to the employees. He emphasized the government's commitment to providing a sufficient workload based on the Business Process Management System (BPMS) demands.
The minister also highlighted the government's efforts to bring non-core items into the core group, aiming to enhance self-reliance in defence production. He expressed satisfaction with the performance of all defence companies, including the Ordnance Factories.
Regarding the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), the minister acknowledged the suggestions made during the National Productivity Council (NPC) meetings and assured that the number of employees and officers would be maintained accordingly.
Addressing concerns about pension disparities in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the minister agreed to consider equal pension deductions for officers and employees, with a minimum pension of Rs. 9,000.
The delegation included prominent union leaders such as Sadhu Singh, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Maruti Pawar, Suresh Yadav, Sarvjeet Singh, Shri Bengal Rao, J Sridhar, and N Srinanayak.
