Now, Sahib wants his say in transfers

Labour reforms have made little headway and the social security scheme for the unorganised sector is yet to take off. But Union Labour Minis...

Labour reforms have made little headway and the social security scheme for the unorganised sector is yet to take off. But Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma has something else bothering him — he wants to wield the power to transfer and post staff in a corporation under the Ministry of Labour — Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).

The minister has been fighting it out with the bureaucrats manning the corporation for almost a year. After taking over, in a circular dated August 26, 2002, Verma had issued orders that all transfers and postings of Group A officers in all corporations and organisations under the Labour Ministry be done only with his approval.

The Employees’ Provident Funds Organisation and Director General of Labour Welfare fell in line. In the case of ESIC — since 1948 — the executive powers have been vested with the director general (DG), an additional secretary rank officer, who is in charge of transfers.

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On October 3, 2002, the then DG clarified that the power of transfer was with the DG. Former DGs were consulted and it was felt that unless the ESIC Act was amended, the power would remain with the DG. Verma, however, was not willing to relent. After a senior officer was transferred from Delhi to Mumbai — something the minister didn’t like at all — on May 8, 2003 the corporation got an order from the office of the minister stating that no transfers be affected till the transfer policy was approved by the minister.

A transfer policy had been discussed with Verma and his suggestions were incorporated. The final draft had been shown to him on May 7, 2003, just a day earlier, which he had found in order.

The minister’s office conceded to The Indian Express that a policy was already in place and clarified that the note had been prepared before the policy was drafted. Trying to underplay the issue, a spokesperson for the minister said that there was no conflict between the minister and ESIC over this issue.

Despite repeated calls, the DG of ESIC could not be contacted. ESIC officials say that on an average the corporation gets five to six requests for transfers and postings from the minister daily.