Air India’s regional office forms panel to identify ‘redundant’ employees

Air India’s northern regional office has formed a committee to identify “redundant” or “surplus” employees who would be asked to go on a compulsory leave without pay (LWP) for up to five years.

P S Negi, Regional Director (RD), Northern Region, Air India, issued an order stating that an empowered committee is being constituted for the identification of such employees, news agency PTI has reported.

Negi’s order, which has been accessed by PTI, said the general manager (personnel), general manager (finance) and departmental heads will be the members of the empowered committee.

“GM (Personnel) will share the staff list with all departments and convene the discussions/deliberations, including the process of identification of surplus/redundant resources. The report is to be submitted to the regional director’s office by August 11, 2020, for a review and onward recommendation to the headquarters,” the order said.

The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. All airlines in the country have gone for cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, LWP and firing of employees in order to conserve cash flow, the PTI report said.

The airline had said these committees would go through the records, based on factors such as suitability, efficiency, competence and health, and select the employees whose names will be forwarded, along with the regional director’s recommendations, to get the approval of the chairman and managing director for sending them on a compulsory LWP.