THE CENTRAL Trade unions have vehemently opposed the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) cleared by the Union Cabinet last night for public sector employees, even though it was a slight "improvement" over the earlier offer.
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) maintained it had never accepted the proposal for any VRS. Senior BMS leader R K Bhagat said the Government was heavily disinvesting its share in the Public Sector Units and the money raised could be utilised to revive the sick units.
He said the Government had not taken the unions into confidence. There was no mention of the scheme during the pre-Budget consultations the Finance Minister had with the union representatives. Ever since the scheme was launched, more than a lakh workers of 50 years and above age in the sick units had already taken the VRS, he said.
W R Vardarajan, secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said there was "nothing new" about the scheme. He said there was no proper manpower planning in the PSUs and CITU did not agree with the view there was surplus staff. Chandidas Sinha, secretary, Indian National Trade Union Congress said the Government must clarify from where funds would come for VRS payoffs.
