Patiala: Protests intensified among power sector apprentices in Punjab after the state govt proposed removing the mandatory apprenticeship condition for recruitment in power utilities, raising concerns over job security for trained candidates.Nearly 2,600 apprentices associated with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) opposed the move and demanded priority employment for those who completed or were undergoing apprenticeship training.A large gathering at Ludhiana earlier this week drew around 2,000 apprentices and turned the meeting into a rally. After this, a delegation led by the 2,600 apprenticeship PSPCL & PSTCL Punjab Union president Surinder Singh met senior officials of the power utility and submitted a memorandum listing their demands.“We will have to appear for the exams again despite clearing it earlier, whereas our apprenticeship period of around five months is almost complete. The govt should give priority to us by directly recruiting us as our training is near completion,” said Surinder Singh.According to the delegation, the authorities acknowledged the issue and assured that a high-level meeting with top officials, including the CMD-cum-chairman or directors, would be held on April 7 to deliberate on the matter. However, the union issued a warning. “If the April 7 meeting fails to deliver a concrete solution, we will be compelled to launch an intensified agitation,” he said.The apprentices demanded priority in recruitment for those who had already completed training or cleared the assistant lineman (ALM) examination. They also insisted that candidates undergoing training be absorbed as regular employees immediately after completing their six-month apprenticeship.The controversy stemmed from a recent notification by the power utilities proposing direct recruitment of ITI-qualified candidates by scrapping the apprenticeship requirement and the mandatory Punjabi language condition. While the latter was reportedly rolled back after protests, the apprenticeship issue remained unresolved.Union leaders said bypassing trained apprentices would be unfair and could lead to local employment opportunities being taken by candidates from outside Punjab. They urged the state govt to consider implementing a quota system to safeguard local jobs.With the April 7 meeting seen as crucial, apprentices across the state were asked to remain prepared for large-scale protests if their demands were not met.Harsharan Kaur Tehran, director, commercial, PSPCL, said, “The decision to scrap ‘apprenticeship requirement’ was taken to fill the large number of posts — around 6,000. The apprenticeship will be done after recruitment. Those who are undergoing an apprenticeship can also apply for the posts.”She added, “The mandatory Punjabi language conditions were not removed, but the concerned employee, meant to issue the circular, had misunderstood some directions by the board of governors, following which a fresh circular was issued immediately.”MSID:: 130002482 413 |
