Factories being modernized

The Indian Government is considering corporatizing the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) as a 100% owned unit and put on par with Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

“Corporatisation of OFB will put the group on par with other DPSUs,” said Defence Ministry on 16 August 2019.

“This is in the interest of OFB as it will provide operational freedom and flexibility to OFB which it presently lacks,” said the Ministry.

The Committee also pointed out that Government has been continuously trying to strengthen the functioning of OFB, including having taken several steps to modernise the factories, carry out capital upgradation, re-train and re-skill OFB employees at Government costs, enable development of products and components with indigenous technology.

“Besides, the interests of the workers will be adequately safeguarded in any decision taken on the subject,” assured the Ministry.

This assurance was given the Ministry through a high level Committee to All India Defence Employees Federation, Indian National Defence Workers Federation, Bhartiya Pratiksha Mazdoor Sangh and Confederation of Defence Recognized Association on 14 August 2019.

The Committee also pointed out that the employees’ call for 30 days’ strike was unprecedented, especially when Government has already agreed to their demand to hold discussions at the MoD level and is in process of continuously engaging with them.

The Committee also pointed out that the employees’ call for 30 days’ strike was unprecedented, especially when Government has already agreed to their demand to hold discussions at the Ministry level and is in process of continuously engaging with them.

The Committee urged the employee organisations to recognise Government’s efforts to make OFB into a competitive, productive and efficient organisation with higher turnover and enhanced profitability, which would also be in the interest of the employees.

Therefore, the Committee once again urged the employee organisations to withdraw their proposed strike, said the Ministry statement. fiinews.com