INTUC’s Demand for Land Evictees and Local Employment in NALCO.
Angul/Nalco Nagar, 23/12 – A delegation representing various recognized trade unions associated with the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) in NALCO recently met Shri Sanjay Lohia, Additional Secretary of Mines and Chairman of NALCO, at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi. The delegation included representatives from NALCO Shramik Congress Union (recognized union of CPP), NALCO Employees Forum (recognized union of NALCO’s Corporate office), and NALCO Employees Sangh of Smelter Plant. They submitted a memorandum demanding employment for 198 land evictees sponsored ITI by NALCO, as well as provisions to secure permanent employment for skilled workers, local residents, and heirs of current employees under the ongoing recruitment process.The delegation highlighted that, as per the decision of the NALCO Board meeting on 20/03/2019 and earlier discussions held with the Chief Minister on 17/02/1984, it was decided to provide permanent employment to displaced youth after imparting ITI training. Accordingly, displaced youth were employed in NALCO as permanent employees. However, the recruitment process was halted in 2013 following a resolution by the NALCO Board. Despite the commitment made during the 6th Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) meeting held on 18/01/2014 to provide permanent employment to the 198 trained individuals, they were instead engaged as contractual workers.
The delegation pointed out that the proposed recruitment process does not include provisions for making the 198 ITI-trained land evictees permanent. Instead, it extends the age limit to 40 years for local unemployed youth and displaced individuals. They emphasized that many land evictees have yet to receive any employment in NALCO. The delegation demanded that the Board’s decision to employ the 198 trained individuals be implemented and a reservation system for land evictees be established for recruitments.Additionally, the delegation highlighted that over 60% of the employees who retired were replaced with skilled contract workers, significantly contributing to NALCO’s productivity and production goals. They demanded that such skilled contract workers be considered for permanent employment based on their qualifications.During the meeting, the NALCO Chairman assured that the newly appointed Director of HR would address these issues and take appropriate measures. The delegation also brought to attention the lack of maintenance and modernization of the smelter and CPP plants. They urged investment in CAPEX to renovate old plants within a specified timeline, ensuring sustained productivity and a secure future for Nalco. The representatives stressed that while the expansion of the Panchpatmali bauxite mines and the refinery would boost alumina production, the smelter and CPP plants also need to be expanded to utilize this alumina in aluminum production. This would increase NALCO’s profit margins. They emphasized that timely implementation of expansion projects would significantly benefit NALCO.The INTUC delegation included Shri Madan Mohan Dhal (Vice President, INTUC Odisha), Nirmal Samal (President, NALCO Employees Sangh), Shri Bibhab Jena (General Secretary, NALCO Shramik Congress Union), Shri Pradipta Das (General Secretary, NALCO Corporate Office Union), Hemant Pradhan, Shri Dinabandhu Mishra, Ashok Behera, Bijan Dal Behera, Jatin Nayak, Harekrishna Nath, Ganeshwar Behera, and Sanjeev Das, among otherYs.
