Nagpur – This sensational matter was informed to News Today 24×7 team by local INTUC Leader Abid Hussain from WCL (WESTERN Coalfields Limited), Wani North Zone.
Abid Hussain has made a very grievous allegation About workers getting their monthly salary with all allowances and employment benefits by just getting their attendance logged for the day and being absent from the duties assigned to them the whole day thru.
“The workers just come in to log their attendance (present for the day) and after that they simply vanish from the site to cater to their personal side business or other kind of employment somewhere else. Despite being absent from the work, they still enjoy the benefits of monthly salary and other benefits that come along with their salary as a part of their remuneration like ECHS etc.” so alleges Abid Hussain.
He further stated that this is a nexus involving the self-proclaimed leaders of the Labour Union, a few ex and present Grampanchayat Sarpanch members and Panchayat Samiti,Z P representatives, WCl foreman, Supervisors and the highest Cadre of WCL officers such as the Chief Managing Director Himself (CMD). Such big and elaborate is this NEXUS that even the WCL Wani area Supervisors to the top ranking WCL officers, all prefer to turn a blind eye to this issues for past many years.
How is it possible that insufficient work force stays unnoticed by the WCL officers and by the top brass of WCL Wani zone? This callous attitude simply points at a couple of serious integrity issues of the WCL officers in charge of workforce and the output /production. Doesn’t this somewhat suggest malpractice such as
1: WCL officers being “hand in glove” in this scam?
2: Or “look busy, take it easy” attitude?
3. Or maybe they are getting a fair cut from the salaries of these absconding workers which can be in tune of lakhs of rupees each month as an extra income?
Such callous attitude, despite being aware of such malpractice can easily be termed as Integrity issues of the WCL officers who are in charge of the site and its day to day operational duties. Their integrity is questioned here because they are responsible for the production, the people /workers needed to get the required production each day and ensuring equal work load on each worker at the mines.
So, if the workers are absconding from their shifts (despite being present only in the attendance muster) production will take a hit in absence of proper/required workforce. And this definitely is a serious hit to the govt revenue(especially for WCL that already is running in losses) since the payout in salaries is more than the output in production. Simple fact is that the absconding workers with full pay and no work are causing a negative impact either on the coal production or the health of an honest worker on shift.
The irony is such that those workers who are genuinely sick and are on medical leaves or are in need of a medical leave for the treatment of their illness are given a charge sheet by the clerks of WCL and are terminated from their services, while others simply abscond from the duties and enjoy a full monthly salary and the clerk gets his CUT from these workers salary on their pay day. Not only this is causing a dent in the Government revenue but other factors like unnecessary and unproductive workers such as siding belt operators (Wani North railway siding) , Dozer operators, maintenance workers are getting salaries for absolutely for no work since many years. Despite being in severe losses from many years, Wani North Area is over staffed (excess manpower), yet the upper management is MUTE, Deaf and Blind to reasons causing such losses. Indeed this issue was escalated by Abid Hussain , but due to top lawyers and the involvement of the WCL officers from the core to the top, the matter was simply hushed up and never was taken into consideration.
Or if the production is still somehow being MANAGED as per the requirement then surely the workers on the shift might be overloaded with extra work to compensate for the work and hour loss of the absconding workers. This surely violates the rules governing the workers right for fair pay…… Double work (by overloading/ burdening the workers to compensate for the absconding workers share of work) Single Pay does not justify the rights of the workers.
It is highly important that we bring to light the health hazards the workers face who work in non-conducive working environment like mines.It is a grave task to work as a minor and is ten times more difficult than a normal labour work.
Abid Hussain has further added that if still the Top management of this Area fails to address the concerns he has highlighted many times to them, he will be forced to approach the Coal India Vigilance Team for their involvement and investigation into the above mentioned grievous practices at WCL WANI North Area.
