Budget curtailment leads to retrenchment of Contract Workers - BSNLCCWF holds Nationwide Protest on 7th January.

The decision of the BSNL Corporate Office to curtail the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) budget has led to large-scale retrenchment of contract workers across various circles of BSNL. During the Circle Heads’ meeting, discussions on reducing staff costs resulted in the CBB Section issuing orders for budget curtailment. This compelled Circle Managements to drastically reduce expenditure on contract labour, severely affecting workers engaged in essential services such as Electrical Wings, Housekeeping, and Security Services. Even after earlier reductions in manpower, the Finance Section issued another order on 08.12.2025, further reducing the wages of contract workers and discontinuing the payment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to casual labourers. These measures have worsened the already precarious living and working conditions of contract and casual workers.

The BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF) reviewed these serious developments in its Central Secretaries’ Meeting held in November 2025 and decided to observe a Nationwide Protest Day on 7th January. In accordance with this decision, demonstrations were successfully organised by contract and casual workers in several circles, including Kerala, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Tripura, Maharashtra, and Kolkata, highlighting the adverse impact of budget curtailment on workers’ livelihood. Despite repeated representations submitted by BSNLCCWF to the Director (HR), PGM (Establishment), and PGM (Administration), no concrete relief has been extended by the Management so far. 

In view of the continued indifference of the Management and the worsening condition of contract and casual workers, the BSNLCCWF has decided to intensify the struggle. As part of the next course of action, the Federation will approach the Chief Labour Commissioner and the Chairman of the Standing Committee, seeking their immediate intervention to safeguard the livelihood and rights of the affected workers.