Hyderabad, October 16
Allaying fears of retrenchment in Air India, civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Thursday categorically said the government was not considering any lay-off plan for the national carrier. “No body will be retrenched from Air India,” he told The Tribune.

“Certainly, the current aviation crisis will affect growth plans… it will affect future employment opportunities which would have come the way of Air India in case the aviation industry was in a much better financial health. As of now, all I can say is those who are working for Air India will continue to do so and we will not have any issue of people being laid-off,” he said.

Private carrier Jet Airlines laid off 1,900 jobs to ward off the impact of the financial crisis in the aviation sector, leading to furore in the sector and widespread speculation that other companies might follow suit. Patel said, while he sympatised with the Jet staff, it was a labour issue that was completely out of the ambit of his ministry.

“We will talk to airlines so that similar crisis does not crop up in future,” he added in response to the situation that emerged in Mumbai following Jet Airlines handing pink slips to its staff.

In fact, in what is being sold as a win-win situation for its employees by Air India, the in-the-red national carrier today announced a voluntary leave scheme for its 15,000 employees.

Announcing the step that clearly emerges from the heat of the financial crisis facing the aviation sector, Air India said it was considering a plan to give three to five years leave without pay to about 15,000 of its staff.

The national carrier said it was open to letting as many as 15,000 employees to go on leave without pay for 3-5 years, but it would be a voluntary action on the employees’ part. Those who take up the offer to go on leave would be taken back if they desire so at the same seniority and last drawn pay.

“Official of National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) is not mulling any lay off. We are planning to offer leave without pay for three to five years. We can consider it for about 15,000 employees,” said Jitendra Bhargava, executive director, Air India.