Contract workers at ONGC Vadodara unit to strike work

Contract workers at the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's (ONGC) Vadodara facility may go on an indefinite strike from December 20, if the organisation does not consider their demand for permanent employment.

The workers have issued a notice under the Industrial Dispute Act over the five-year-old issue of employment on contract.

ONGC had employed 577 class four employees on a four-year contract. At the end of the contract, the workers approached the regional labour commissioner against certain provisions in their contracts and the human resource policies of ONGC.

Later the issue was referred to the ministry of human resource.

Meanwhile, ONGC had shown its willingness to interview its contract labours again. The first round of interviews began on Friday. The agitated group of workers decided to stay away from the interview process.

"We have issued a notice to ONGC on Friday, 14 days in advance as per the norms. We have planned to oppose the contract labour system adopted by ONGC that is no where mentioned in the human resource policy of ONGC. We have also decided to stay away from the interview process," said Janak Soni, joint secretary, Employees Mazdoor Sabha, an association of workers.

However, the company officials kept their lips tight over the issue stating that they are in talks with the representatives of workers.

On Friday, workers from other facilities including Mehsana and Kambey also visited to support the movement of workers at Vadodara facility of ONGC.