Post-PSEB unbundling, tripartite pact inked
PSPCL and PSTCL to remain govt companies; no retrenchment
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, November 20
Seven months after the unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board, a tripartite agreement was signed among the Punjab Government, managements of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) and trade unions yesterday.

The agreement clearly mentions that both power utilities - PSPCL and PSTCL- will remain government companies. Representatives of employees unions and the PSEB Engineers Association have expressed happiness over the development.

After the bifurcation of the erstwhile PSEB in mid-April this year, two successor companies - PSPCL and PSTCL -were formed. At that time, the government had given an assurance to employees unions, engineers association and the Joint Forum that a tripartite agreement would be signed within 10 days. After waiting for a few months, the unions launched protest demonstrations against the government and the managements of the PSPCL and the PSTCL.

According to sources in the Power Department, in the wake of the increasing protests by the unions, it was decided not to delay the signing of the agreement.

According to information, Special Secretary (Power) Arun Goel signed the agreement on behalf of the government, whereas Chairmen-cum-MDs of the PSPCL and the PSTCL KD Chaudhari and Anurag Agarwal, respectively, signed the agreement representing the power utilities. From employees and engineers’ side, representative of the Joint Forum, Engineers Association and the Council of Junior Engineers signed the pact.

The main highlight of the agreement is regarding the non-retrenchment of the employees of the power utilities. “The government, the PSPCL and the PSTCL guarantee that there will be no retrenchment of any employee for any reason. Any employee found surplus will be trained by the power corporations and will be redeployed as per the work requirement,” reads the tripartite agreement.

It also mentioned that all existing welfare measures prevalent in the erstwhile PSEB like medical reimbursement, electricity concession, group insurance, compensatory appointments, LTC etc would continue in the PSPCL and the PSTCL.

The agreement also ensures that existing differential in the salaries of employees of the erstwhile PSEB vis-à-vis their counterpart in the government will be maintained. The system of the wage formulation committee of the erstwhile PSEB will continue in the successor entities.

“Any modification in the transfer scheme, Memorandum of Association, Article of Association, qualification and experience of CMDs and Directors of the PSPCL and the PSTCL will be made after consultation and understanding with the signatories of pact. However, the government decision will be final in this regard,” reads the four-page agreement.

The agreement further reads that existing recognition of the trade unions/associations by the erstwhile PSEB will be continued by the PSPCL and PSTCL as per the prevailing legal provisions.

Spokesman for the Joint Forum Manjit Chahal said: “Though the issue was delayed for many months, we are happy that finally the government and the managements of the power corporations have conceded to our demand of the signing of the tripartite agreement. We urge state government to accept our other pending demands also.”

PSEB Engineers’ Association president HS Bedi said their association was thankful to CM Parkash Singh Badal with whose intervention the agreement got signed.