BSNL staff union demands tax holiday

National Union of Telecom Employees in grade C of Indore district branch, has demanded a tax holiday for BSNL, Employees Stock Option Plan (ESOP) and compensation for expenses towards village phones.

In a memorandum submitted to Tapan Sikdar, Minister of State for Communication, and to Dr DPS Seth, Chairman and MD, BSNL, the union also sought compensation for uneconomical services, restructuring of buildings, group vehicle system, etc. In a release issued by Prakash Sharma, District President, the Union has said that they had demanded a tax holiday for at least five years. They argued they were no longer a central government department and would have to pay corporate tax, sales and other taxes and this would break the back of the infant organization. The union also opposed the disinvestments of BSNL at this juncture. They, however, said that if this has become inevitable under pressure form various authorities, then employees should be given a stock option under ESOP so that their rights were protected under the minority shareholder's rights.

The release added that, according to the agreement reached between three federations and DoT, it has been agreed that expenses towards village phone installation and other uneconomical services and facilities would be borne by the government.

However, till date, no policy had been framed to compensate BSNL, thus putting it under financial crisis.

The union also suggested a group vehicle scheme be introduced whereby, only one vehicle should be used for officers of one particular unit. The release also urged that the disinvestments of BSNL should not be done in a hurry since they feared it would ruin the organization, which was still in its infancy.