Pay cut for absentee employees in West Bengal

KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee has kept her words. She had warned the employees of West Bengal government of dire consequences once they failed to report for their duties during the nation-wide general strike held on February 28. Her government has already identified the absentee employees and initiated measures against them.

West Bengal government has ordered a deduction of pay for its employees who did not report for duty on the bandh day of February 28.

In an official memorandum of the finance department issued on Wednesday, it has also been said that there will not be any break-up in service for unjustified absence on that day.

According to H.K.Dwivedi, secretary of the finance department, absentee employees would be first showcause. Five clauses have been inserted in the memorandum, by any of which, an absentee employee can justifiably give reasons for his absence on that day. He must, however, provide documentary support to avail of the waiver. In case an employee is not able to give justifiable reason, the absence will be treated as "dies non", which means that he will not be paid any salary for that day.

However, in case an employees does not respond to the showcause within the deadline of March 31, disciplinary action will be taken against him. The finance department memorandum does not specify what such actions might entail.

West Bengal chief secretary Samar Ghosh clarified on Wednesday that disciplinary action against the absentee employees will not affect past service of those employees.

West Bengal labour minister Purnendu Bose told ET that employees unions might challenge the government's decision before any court of law and "I am sure that such moves by the unions or any individual employee will be defeated in any court of law."