Quess staff propose, MSPDCL chairman dismisses
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 04 2021:
In pursuance of the demand that Quess staff should be treated as employees of MSPDCL as did in the past, members of All Manipur Quess Staff Union staged a sit-in-protest near Secure Office building, 2nd MR Gate here on Monday.
Union general secretary K Sadishkumar told media persons on the sidelines of the protest that Quess staff have been working for the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL) since the past many years.
When Quess staff lodged complaint over irregular and untimely payment of wages, MSPDCL officials informed the union that the complaint was unrelated with MSPDCL but with Quess and this confused the union.
Quess staffers are working for MSPDCL but payment of salary by Quess has compelled the union to suspect a conspiracy, he said, adding that the union is against the preparation being made to recruit new staff for MSPDCL when Quess staff are still working for the power company.
Meanwhile, MSPDCL chairman and MLA L Susindro has asserted that the contract agreement signed between MSPDCL and the Bangalore-based business service provider Quess will no longer be valid and hence there will be no relation between MSPDCL and Quess.
Addressing media persons at MSPDCL corporate office near 2nd MR on Monday, L Susindro said that there were 236 employees under Quess working for MSPDCL Following en-mass resignation by Quess member employees on September 21 and remaining non-communicated with MSPDCL since then, a meeting of MSPDCL board meeting was held on Monday amidst which Quess employees launched protest near the office of the power company.
A meeting with the agitators was also held and reached an understanding on invalidating the contract agreement signed between MSPDCL and Quess.
However, requisition of former Quess employees by the company/engagement of the employees under daily wage basis or not will be decided by the company and the final decision will be made known to the employees within a week counting from Monday, L Susindro.
The chairman further said that Quess employees should not have launched agitation in front of MSPDCL office but at Quess office, However, prolonged closure of Quess office compelled the employees to stage their protest in front of MSPDCL office as they were utilised by the company.
The contract between MSPDCL and Quess had to be extended by three months by signing an agreement on October 1 but could not establish communication after the mass resignation by the Quess employees.
In view of the present situation, there will be no contract extension between MSPDCL and Quess, he affirmed.
For each of the 236 Quess employees, MSPDCL paid Rs 9872 per month to Quess and the Bangalore based service provider paid these employees Rs 5995 per month after deducting service charge, GST and others, Susindro explained and expressed hope that ending contract with Quess will help the state in avoiding diversion of huge money to outside.
The matter has been apprised to agitating employees and accordingly reached an understanding, he added.
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