ONGC gives final call for interviews

In a bid to sort out the controversy concerning contract labourers, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Vadodara has issued a final notice for interview.

The contract labourers are demanding permanent employment with ONGC. They are protesting against the initiative of ONGC to conduct interviews of workers before appointing them under a revised contract.

As per public notices issued by ONGC in the last two days, the company will be at liberty to appoint other persons by any other mode.

"The workers have an unlawful demand of permanent employment with the organisation. The contract agreement clearly says that the employment shall expire after four years period. Even after four years we had extended the contract period," said V R Tamhankar, general manger and regional head, ONGC, Vadodara.

The interviews are set to begin at ONGC's facilities at Ahmedabad and Vadodara from Friday. Earlier, ONGC had issued two interview notices but workers had boycotted them during December last year.

"We are doing our best to bring the conclusion and also expecting co-operation from workers to resolve the issue. This is the last interview round we are conducting and we will learn workers' standing tomorrow," said Tamhankar.

The term of the contract workers has ended on December 12, 2004. The workers are of the opinion that they may have to loose their employment in case ONGC would reject them after the interview process.

Similarly workers are not ready to be interviewed as a contract labour again with ONGC.