
The NABARD’s Kerala Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram has found itself in the midst of a heated controversy. Four contract employees, who were engaged at the office and staff quarters, were abruptly terminated due to their association with the Bank Temporary Employees Federation (BTEF), which is affiliated with the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI). This move has sparked concerns regarding the treatment of temporary workers and their right to unionize within the banking sector.

The terminated employees consisted of three contract security guards and one housekeeping supervisor, all of whom were let go immediately after joining the BTEF, as confirmed by union leaders. Among the terminated employees, three contract security guards over the age of 55 were dismissed, while four more are facing the threat of termination. The termination based on age restrictions has caused controversy, as the contract terms did not mention a 55-year age limit, and no prior notice was given before termination.
In response to these terminations, the BTEF and BEFI organized a demonstration at the NABARD Kerala Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram on April 15, 2024. During the demonstration, the protestors demanded the withdrawal of the terminations and the reinstatement of the affected workers.
V Ananthakrishnan, the District President of BTEF, wrote a letter to the Chief General Manager at the Kerala Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram, urging the revocation of the illegal punitive measures imposed on the contract workers and the immediate reinstatement of their right to work.
Despite being the principal employer, NABARD has remained silent on the issue, raising questions about its responsibility 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, the General Secretary of BTEF, emphasized that the termination is a direct violation of the workers’ right to unionize. He criticized NABARD for not intervening in the matter, despite being the principal employer with the responsibility to ensure fair treatment.
A leader of the NABARD Employees Association expressed concern over the widespread issue of contract labor in the banking sector, particularly within NABARD. He highlighted that in addition to award staff and security personnel, NABARD also hires consultants on one-year contracts, with yearly reviews for a maximum employment period of three years. These highly qualified individuals are hired through the subsidiary NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS), without any job security or other employee benefits. In short, temporary employees are being forced to work as wage slaves.
The termination of temporary employees at NABARD’s Regional Office and staff quarters due to their association with the union has ignited controversy, with allegations of vindictive action by NABARD officials. The demand for the reinstatement of the terminated workers sheds light on the ongoing struggle for the rights of contract laborers in the banking sector. The BTEF is planning further protests if the vindictive actions against their members are not withdrawn.
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