The Hindu Business Line : Chamling warns private sector against breach of job pacts

Gangtok, Oct. 12 The private sector, including pharma and hydro power developers, today came under attack by the Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling, who accused them of violating the agreements signed with the State Government on local employment and warned of “zero tolerance” against such transgressions.

“I today feel sad that agreements the State Government had signed with the companies and power developers for 100 per cent local employment and awarding of contract and supplies works to locals have not been met and I express my strong displeasure in this meeting,” the Chief Minister said at the Investors Meet 2009 here today. “Those who have a tendency to stray from agreements and take our people for a ride will have to face the consequences,” Mr Chamling told the entrepreneurs, representatives of hydro developers, pharma companies and other industries operating in Sikkim.

‘Employ locals’

Reminding the decisions taken during last year’s investors meet, the Chief Minister said that he had called upon the investors to employ locals in all posts and extend full cooperation in the interests of the people of Sikkim in line with the policies of the State Government. This is also applicable to hotels, tour operators and small-scale industries here.

“Today I feel sad that this has not happened with most of the projects and wages are also not uniform which is based on the fancy of the management, “said Mr Chamling. We are fully behind our workers and our minimum wages are notified and this must be followed, he said.

The companies must employ 100 per cent locals barring executive posts and exceptional cases which calls for highly skilled expertise and the companies must train our local youth and absorb them skilled jobs, directed Mr Chamling. He told the private sector to recruit local manpower from the list of unemployed educated youth at the employment cell of the Department of Personnel. The construction jobs which do not require huge amounts should be given to the local contractors, he said.

Land acquisitions

Regarding land acquisitions, the Chief Minister told the investors to acquire land directly through the land owner or State government and not through middlemen which he said will encourage land brokers and land sharks.

The Chief Minister gave all the companies, hoteliers and tour operators one month’s time to submit details of local employment, names and details of contractors or firms hired land acquired and works done for local area development. These details will enable us to review our commitment made to the people of Sikkim, he said.

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