Contract Workers at NABARD Kerala Regional Office Face Vindictive Actions for Unionising

NABARD's Kerala Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram have found themselves at the centre of a controversy, as four contract employees engaged at the office and the staff quarters were abruptly terminated for their association with the Bank Temporary Employees Federation (BTEF), affiliated with the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI). The move has raised concerns about the treatment of temporary workers and the right to unionise in the banking sector.

Termination Amidst Union Affiliation

Four temporary employees, including three contract security guards and one housekeeping supervisor, faced immediate termination from their positions after joining the Bank Temporary Employees Federation (BTEF), affiliated with BEFI, as stated by the union leaders. 

Among the terminated employees, three contract security guards above the age of 55 were dismissed, with four more facing the threat of termination. The termination citing age restrictions sparked controversy as there was no mention of a 55-year age bar in the contract terms, and there was no prior notice before the termination of contract. 

(Protest demonstration organised by BTEF and BEFI at the NABARD Kerala Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram)

Demand for Reinstatement

In response to the termination, BTEF and BEFI organised a demonstration at the NABARD Kerala Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram on 15 April, 2024. The demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of the termination and the reinstatement of the affected workers. 

"We demand that the illegal punitive measures inflicted on the contract workers be revoked and their right to work reinstated immediately", urged V Ananthakrishnan, District President of BTEF, in a letter addressed to the Chief General Manager at Kerala Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram.  

NABARD's Silence

Despite being the principal employer, NABARD has remained silent on the issue, raising questions about its role in ensuring fair treatment of temporary workers. The termination of employees without prior notice or explanation has further fueled concerns about the treatment of contract workers in the banking sector. 

K S Raveendran, General Secretary of BTEF, emphasised, "The termination is a direct violation of the workers' right to unionise. As the principal employer, NABARD has the responsibility to ensure fair treatment, but refuses to intervene."

(From BTEF-BEFI protest at the NABARD Kerala Regional Office)

A leader of the NABARD Employees Association, expressed his concern over ‘widespread issue of contract labour in the banking sector in general and NABARD in particular’. “In addition to award-staff and security personnel, NABARD also appoints consultants on 1-year contracts, followed by reviews every year, up to a maximum employment of 3 years. They are hired via subsidiary NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS). Highly qualified youngsters are hired for these positions without any job security or other employee benefits. In short, the temporary employees are being forced to work as wage slaves", he told Kanal. 

The termination of temporary employees at NABARD's Regional Office and staff quarters for joining the union has stirred controversy, with allegations of vindictive action by NABARD officials. The demand for the reinstatement of terminated workers highlights the ongoing struggle for the rights of contract labourers in the banking sector. The BTEF is planning further agitations if the vindictive action against their members is not withdrawn.