<ul><li>The debt-ridden telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) is yet to make outstanding payments worth ₹200 billion to vendors. </li><li>This has put 100,000 jobs in the domestic telecom sector in trouble. </li><li>The workforce — including the off-roll employees are now planning to protest outside the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for delayed salaries. </li><li>The government’s plan to merge BSNL and MTNL comes with a voluntary retirement plan for employees. Under this, the company will give away 125% of the remaining salaries until retirement. </li></ul>The debt-ridden telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) is to make outstanding payments worth ₹200 billion to vendors. This means another 100,000 jobs in the domestic telecom sector are in trouble. “This is an unfortunate situation. More than 1 lakh employees of domestic companies may be out of their job in the next few weeks if the government continues to ignore the financially-stressed industry,” Sandeep Aggarwal, chairman of Telecom Committee at PHD Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/one-lakh-jobs-at-risk-as-vendors-struggle-to-get-rs-20000-crore-from-bsnl/articleshow/71903693.cms"> told </a>ET. The state-owned telco is now looking to reduce its operational costs. However, the unpaid dues left the workers and employees stranded. The telecom industry employs over 200,000 workers. In the last few months, BSNL has been paying salaries to its own 180,000 employees after a standard two-week delay. The workforce — including the off-roll employees are now planning to protest outside the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for delayed salaries, ET <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/one-lakh-jobs-at-risk-as-vendors-struggle-to-get-rs-20000-crore-from-bsnl/articleshow/71903693.cms">reported</a>. “The telecom department has diverted funds payable to industry to meet out BSNL staff wages but no concern is displayed for several thousands of those employed in the private sector,” Aggarwal added. The companies demanding recovery of the unpaid dues include Sterlite Technologies (STL), Vihaan Networks Limited (VNL) and Birla Cable Limited (BCL) amongst others. This includes payment of telecommunication kits and other services extended to the telcos BSNL and MTNL. Over <a href="https://www.developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/vendor-news/8906-vendors-hit-by-bsnl-and-mtnl-non-payment.html">1,100 complaints</a> have been registered against the company for outstanding dues. This is one of the highest for any public sector entity. Last month, the Narendra Modi government decided to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/bsnl-and-mtnl-will-be-merged-and-employees-will-be-offered-voluntary-retirement-as-part-of-revival/articleshow/71721917.cms">merge the two telcos</a> — BSNL and MTNL. While the merger will take some time to be implemented, MTNL will be considered as a subsidiary of BSNL. This also comes with a voluntary retirement plan for employees. Under this, the company will give the employees 125% of the salary of remaining years until retirement. It is also tightening costs by reducing its energy consumption by 15%. It is not just BSNL but all telcos are suffering from reduced income from data services, thanks to Jio’s predatory prices. Now, BSNL is looking to offer 4G services to keep up with the times. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/bsnl-and-mtnl-will-be-merged-and-employees-will-be-offered-voluntary-retirement-as-part-of-revival/articleshow/71721917.cms">India decides to merge MTNL and BSNL and offer voluntary retirement to many of its employees</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/bsnl-and-mtnls-74000-cr-plan-involves-purchasing-4g-spectrum-fees-and-vrs/articleshow/71705375.cms">BSNL and MTNL's ₹74,000 cr plan involves purchasing 4G spectrum fees and VRS</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bsnl-which-is-yet-to-pay-august-salaries-wants-to-give-an-attractive-retirement-package-to-80000-employees/articleshow/70988909.cms">BSNL which is yet to pay August salaries wants to give an attractive retirement package to 80,000 employees</a>

100,000 people working with BSNL vendors are likely to go empty handed

<ul><li>BSNL has a net <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/bsnl-may-shut-down-it-has-no-money-to-pay-employees-all-you-need-to-know-about-bsnl-crisis-1556217-2019-06-26">debt</a> of ₹13,000 crore, and estimated losses to the tune of ₹14,000 crore. </li><li>Tthe government is reportedly working on a revival plan, which also involves giving ‘attractive’<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bsnl-which-is-yet-to-pay-august-salaries-wants-to-give-an-attractive-retirement-package-to-80000-employees/articleshow/70988909.cms"> voluntary retirement packages</a> to its staff. </li><li><keyword id="168950" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSNL-employees">BSNL employees</keyword> union wants the company to maximise profits by closing down loss-making exchanges. </li></ul> A 46-year-old BSNL engineer, Ramesh P (name changed) has not received his salary on time for the last few months but he is not worried. “Yes, we as a company are in losses but BSNL has precious land parcels and those are our assets. Our company will not shut down so easily,” he told Business Insider India on the condition of anonymity. The excessive competition from Reliance Jio has left even majors like Airtel and Vodafone Idea wounded and the debt-laden, loss-making BSNL has been one of the victims. The uncertain future of BSNL would have cast a shadow on Ramesh’s family, which used to live from one payday to another. But Ramesh, like many of his colleagues, have taken heart in informal chatter within the grapevine that the company’s land bank may be worth thousands of crores. Not just that, it opens up other opportunities too. Banking on land assets The company’s sprawling 40-acre campus at Gachibowli in Hyderabad is a testament to how BSNL has been making money outside its mainstay telecom business. The campus with lush green vegetation amidst an office and quarters, regularly rents it to shoot movies. A top private school is also in talks with the campus, for a long-term lease, as per sources. In July, the company has started identifying its expansive land parcels that it owns across the country. They believe that at least s 63 of them are in prime locations which might fetch high price, <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/govt-plans-to-transfer-bsnl-land-debt-to-spv-assets-undervalued-says-union/article28916850.ece">as per reports</a>. The idea is to monetize land, along with tower and fiber assets to cut down the debt. The company is <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/bsnl-may-shut-down-it-has-no-money-to-pay-employees-all-you-need-to-know-about-bsnl-crisis-1556217-2019-06-26">saddled with a debt</a> of ₹13,000 crore, and estimated losses to the tune of ₹14,000 crore. However, the government is reportedly working on a revival plan, which also involves giving ‘attractive’<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bsnl-which-is-yet-to-pay-august-salaries-wants-to-give-an-attractive-retirement-package-to-80000-employees/articleshow/70988909.cms"> voluntary retirement packages</a> to its staff, to make the company leaner and more efficient. BSNL employees are unhappy with the revival plan Not all employees are as happy with revival plan proposed by the government, according to a<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/bsnl-revival-plan-lacks-vision-staff-union/article29376735.ece"> Hindu report</a>. The dissenting staff want the company to maximise profits by closing down loss-making exchanges. There are as many as 18,000 such exchanges which are weighing down the balance sheet, a letter sent by Sanchar Nigam Executives’ Association claimed. Moreover, just shutting down exchanges may not be a viable solution for the government that has embarked on a ‘Digital India’ plan, which intends to provide Internet and other voices services to every nook and corner of the country. Closing down exchanges would mean cutting off services in areas which private players would never tread. BSNL has licences to provide telecom services in every circle expect Mumbai and Delhi, where yet another government company, MTNL, operates. Both these players have lost ground and are unable to withstand the onslaught of private telecom majors. A tough competitive market along with bureaucratic hurdles which did not allow BSNL to upgrade technology and equipment had led to loss of customers and brand value. Now that the question is of the company’s survival, the employees want the government to lend an ear to their suggestions. “Live today to fight another day’

An unpaid BSNL employee believes the company will survive the current turmoil

<ul><li>State-owned telecom operator <keyword id="57998" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Sanchar-Nigam-Limited">Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited</keyword> (BSNL) is considering to reduce 80,000 employees with a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to cut down on its operational costs. </li><li>BSNL revenues dipped from ₹32,000 crores to ₹ 18,000 crores, according to its Employee Union. </li><li>It is also looking to reduce its energy consumption by 15% to keep itself afloat. </li><li>The company has not paid the August salaries to its employees, which has led to massive protests by the contractual workers.</li></ul>State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) is looking to cut its headcount by 80,000 employees by offering an attractive Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). The debt-ridden telecom company which is looking to reduce its operational costs, is awaiting government response to its scheme. Once approved, the operator will cut the headcount to half of its existing workforce in India, Pravin Kumar Purwar, Chairman of BSNL <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/bsnl-eyes-to-cut-50-of-employees-on-voluntary-basis/articleshow/70972957.cms">told</a> ET. With this, the telco is looking to outsource employees on a contractual basis to run operations. However, even after retiring the said number, it will have as many as 100,000 employees on payroll. The move will boost revenue of the company as employees cost three fourths of its total revenue. According to the <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bsnl-delays-august-salary-employee-unions-stage-protest-across-country-108293">Employee Union</a>, “BSNL revenues dipped from ₹32,000 crore to ₹ 18,000 crore. The government has not taken any meaningful action to curb the predatory pricing.” “The number of persons in the organisation are far higher than the competitors. One of the proposals under discussion is the VRS. We are looking forward to reduce 70,000 to 80,000 employees, and make it attractive for the employees, so that they can see value in the VRS," Purwar noted. It is also tightening costs by reducing its energy consumption by 15%. It is not just BSNL but all telcos are suffering from reduced income from data services, thanks to Jio’s prices. BSNL is looking to loop in 4G services to keep up with the financial costs. Meanwhile, the telco is also looking to address the payment dues as it is yet to pay its August salaries, The News Minute <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bsnl-delays-august-salary-employee-unions-stage-protest-across-country-108293">reported</a>. This is the third time that the company has delayed salaries. In fact, over 6,500 BSNL’s employees in Telangana protested due to the delay in salaries. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-fate-of-180000-bsnl-unpaid-employees-hangs-in-balance-as-fears-of-a-shutdown-loom-large/articleshow/69954923.cms">The fate of 180,000 BSNL unpaid employees hangs in balance as fears of a shutdown loom large</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bsnl-employees-support-its-management-says-its-expanding-customer-base/articleshow/69967595.cms">BSNL employees support its management, says its expanding customer base</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/bsnl-and-mtnl-may-shed-flab-and-get-4g-spectrum-as-a-part-of-its-proposed-740-billion-bailout-package/articleshow/70054787.cms">BSNL and MTNL may shed flab and get 4G spectrum as a part of the proposed ₹740 billion bailout plan</a>

BSNL which is yet to pay August salaries wants to give an attractive retirement package to 80,000 employees

<ul><li>Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) whose debt of ₹130 billion has piled up.</li><li>Fear has gripped 1.8 lakh employees of the company as their June salaries are yet to be paid.</li><li>The company has written to the telecom ministry, seeking help from government.</li></ul> Nothing short of a bailout from the government can help the state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL). The company has a debt of ₹130 billion piled up leaving no funds for salaries. Just a few days back, the company which owns licence to offer telecom services across the country, except Delhi and Mumbai, asked a handout from the government to pay ₹8.5 billion in salaries. For the last one month, fear has gripped 1.8 lakh employees of the company as their June salaries are still pending. Their benefits have been pending for months now. In fact, contractual workers of the company are in a much tougher position as their salaries have been pending for the last seven months. Such workers in Amritsar have already staged a protest demanding salaries. Added to that, a bunch of them lost their jobs in early June, after the company decided to retrench 30% of its contractual staff to cut down ‘avoidable expenditure’,”<a href="https://www.newsclick.in/BSNL-asks-circles-retrench-30%25-contractual-workers"> says a report</a>. In the meanwhile, the company has written to the telecom ministry early last week elucidating its troubles. "The gap between monthly revenues and bare expenses to continue operations as a going concern has reached a level where continuing with the BSNL operations would be nearly impossible without immediate infusion of adequate equity," Puran Chandra, senior general manager at BSNL<a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/jobs/bsnl-no-funds-june-salaries-to-pay-employees-bharat-sanchar-nigam-limited-modi-government/story/358576.html"> reportedly wrote in the letter.</a> BSNL has also sought a fund of ₹25 billion to keep itself afloat. The state-owned player’s problems started after private telecom operators started eating into the market. In spite of spectrum, assets and legacy, the player, which was amongst the top players in 2005, dropped spots rapidly by the end of 2010. Added to that, the government also delayed its plans to place a tender to upgrade its networks for years, leaving the company in an uncompetitive space. In the past, the government had considered many ways to salvage BSNL, and one of them being a merger with yet another state-owned company MTNL. Yet, none of them materialised. For years, BSNL has also been requesting the government to allow them to monetise its vast real estate assets across the country. Department of Telecommunications however <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/monetising-assets-bsnl-wants-to-sell-lands-which-it-does-not-own/1031849/">shot down the proposal </a>saying that it is the government which owns these assets and not BSNL, hence it is impossible to sell them.

The fate of 180,000 BSNL unpaid employees hangs in balance as fears of a shutdown loom large

<ul><li>The Supreme Court, on June 12, diluted the government’s order that mandated companies to pay wages to employees without deductions during the <keyword id="8637077" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coronavirus-lockdown">coronavirus lockdown</keyword>. </li><li>The employer and the employees should ‘negotiate’ to resolve the matter, the court said. </li><li>This has stirred a debate on how the law protects the employers more than the employees. </li></ul>In a major development, the Supreme Court, on June 12, diluted the government’s order that mandated companies to <a href="https://www.livelaw.in/know-the-law/21-notable-judgments-delivered-by-courts-during-covid-19-lockdown-157947?infinitescroll=1">pay wages to employees without deductions</a> during the coronavirus lockdown. And that has turned the order in favour of the employers — at least for now. The apex court said that the government should not take any coercive steps against those private companies who haven’t paid their employees. In fact, the employer and the employees should ‘negotiate’ to resolve the matter, the court said. However, the next hearing is scheduled for end of July. SC order gives a ‘bargaining power’ to employers This has stirred a debate on how the law protects the employers more than the employees. “This is a classic case of judicial evasion. The court refrained from answering the legal question before it, but its refusal to answer created a status quo where one party benefitted at the expense of the other,” <a href="https://www.livelaw.in/columns/coronavirus-and-the-constitution-xxxii-payment-of-wages-and-judicial-evasion-in-a-pandemic-158293?infinitescroll=1">said</a> <keyword id="318837" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Bhatia">Gautam Bhatia</keyword>, who has published nearly 20 scholarly papers. According to Anshul Prakash, partner at a corporate law company Khaitan &amp; Co, “since no coercive action can be taken against the private companies, they have a good bargaining power to enter into negotiation for <keyword id="4051159" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="payment-of-wages">payment of wages</keyword> at a reduced rate for the lockdown period and settle disputes.” However, in that case, the companies should obtain a ‘no claim letter’ from the workers pursuant to making such payment, added Prakash. Despite the orders… Many companies have already implemented pay cuts and laid off staff. A recent survey of CEOs, that included over 50 Indian startups, shows that <a href="https://qz.com/india/1830676/salary-cuts-arrive-at-indian-startups-amid-the-coronavirus-slump/">one in four startups in India already announced pay cuts</a>. And, a third of them are considering doing so. Goibibo and redBus also slashed employee salaries. There is an extent to which industry can fund unemployment insurance On the other hand, though a few organisations can safeguard their employees from bearing the brunt of the pandemic they will not be able to take the hit for a long time since there is uncertainty around Covid-19 and its possible impact. According to a recent <a href="https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/50000-bsnl-contract-workers-remain-unpaid-for-a-year/76353325">ET report</a>, nearly 50,000 contract employees at Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) were left unpaid despite the government order on payment of wages. Meanwhile, startups like Droom Swiggy, Zomato, MakeMyTrip (MMT), ixigo axed jobs too amid the lockdown. “Some organisations can give away the salaries if they have deeper pockets. However the question is, for how long and are they willing? There is an extent to which industry can fund unemployment insurance. In the long run, organisations cannot afford to bear the burden of unemployment insurance fully,” Rituparna Chakraborty, Co-founder of TeamLease Services told Business Insider in an earlier interview. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/reliance-backed-fynd-turns-your-screen-into-a-mirror-and-lets-you-try-make-up-products-virtually-before-buying-them/articleshow/76382060.cms">Reliance-backed Fynd turns your screen into a mirror and lets you try make-up products virtually before buying them</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tech-mahindra-intel-wipro-and-other-multinationals-hiring-engineers/articleshow/76379519.cms">Tech Mahindra, Intel, Wipro and other multinationals hiring engineers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/these-three-indian-startups-feature-in-the-50-global-future-unicorns-list/articleshow/76379083.cms">These three Indian startups feature in the 50 global future unicorns list</a>

Legal experts argue that Supreme Court is protecting employers and not unpaid employees

<ul><li>State-run telecom firm <keyword id="30351" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BSNL">BSNL</keyword>'s employee unions have called for a nationwide hunger strike on Monday, to protest against delay in execution of the Rs 69,000-crore revival package announced by the government.</li><li>In October 2019, the central government approved a Rs 68,751-crore revival package for loss-making BSNL and MTNL, including 4G spectrum allocation and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), as well as their merger.</li><li>The BSNL employees' body said that due to the delay in the allotment of 4G spectrum and also due to the non-availability of funds, it is understood that BSNL's 4G service is not likely to be launched before the end of 2020.</li></ul>State-run telecom firm BSNL's employee unions have called for a nationwide hunger strike on Monday, to protest against delay in execution of the Rs 69,000-crore revival package announced by the government. "The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) is organising a country-wide hunger strike on February 24, 2020. This hunger strike is being organised to demand the expeditious implementation of the Union Cabinet's revival package in respect of BSNL, as well as to demand settlement of the grievances of the employees," AUAB said in a statement. In October 2019, the central government approved a Rs 68,751-crore revival package for loss-making BSNL and MTNL, including 4G spectrum allocation and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), as well as their merger. AUAB, , said the salient feature of the revival package is the allotment of 4G spectrum, the issuing of sovereign guarantee for raising funds to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore, with share of BSNL at Rs 8,500 crore and Rs 6,500 crore for MTNL, by way of issuing long-term bonds, monetisation of assets and implementation of a VRS. "Out of these, only the VRS has been implemented, through which 78,569 BSNL employees have been sent home. It is extremely disturbing to note that, even after the lapse of nearly 4 months, 4G spectrum has not been allotted to BSNL," statement said. It added that the government has not yet issued the sovereign guarantee to BSNL, to enable it to raise Rs 8,500 crore, by way of issuing long-term bonds. "The process of monetisation of BSNL's assets is also moving at snail's pace. The Supreme Court of India's judgment, with regards to the calculation of the AGR, has caused uncertainties in the telecom sector, due to which banks are also unwilling to extend the much-needed loans to BSNL," the statement said. The BSNL employees' body said that due to the delay in the allotment of 4G spectrum and also due to the non-availability of funds, it is understood that BSNL's 4G service is not likely to be launched before the end of 2020. "This delay is much against the spirit of the Union Cabinet, in approving the revival package for BSNL. The attention of the Minister of Communications (Ravi Shankar Prasad) has already been drawn to the need to provide BSNL with the much-needed working capital. However, nothing has happened," the statement said. AUAB said that despite the relief package, employees are not getting salary on time and the wages of the contract workers have not been paid for the past 10 months. "Under these circumstances, the AUAB has already organised country-wide lunch-hour demonstrations on February 11, 2020. In continuation of this, hunger strikes are being organised throughout the country on February 24 to urge the Department of Telecommunications and the BSNL management to take expeditious actions," AUAB said. PRS HRS See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/taxes-transfers-and-all-other-worries-that-dog-bsnl-and-mtnl-employees-as-they-decide-on-vrs/articleshow/71967148.cms">Taxes, transfers and all other worries that dog BSNL and MTNL employees as they decide on VRS</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/unpaid-bsnl-employees-react-to-the-current-crisis/articleshow/71063961.cms">An unpaid BSNL employee believes the company will survive the current turmoil</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/after-vrs-now-bsnl-will-now-slash-contract-worker-jobs/articleshow/72283164.cms">After VRS, BSNL will now slash contract worker jobs</a>

BSNL employee unions call for nationwide hunger strike on Monday for delay in relief package

<ul><li>A huge decision by the Narendra Modi government to merge two ailing state-owned telecom operators.</li><li>MTNL will be merged with BSNL. It will take time and in the mean time, MTNL will act as a subsidiary of BSNL. </li><li>BSNL will raise ₹15,000 crore via sovereign-backed bonds as part of the revival plan.</li><li>Employees will be offered a voluntary retirement plan-- 125% of their salary for the remaining years until retirement.</li></ul>A huge decision by the Narendra Modi government to merge two ailing state-owned telecom operators. MTNL will be merged with BSNL. The process will take time and in the mean time, MTNL will act as a subsidiary of BSNL. BSNL will raise ₹15,000 crore via sovereign-backed bonds as part of the revival plan. This is likely to cause some anxiety among the over 2 lakh staff at the two companies. Employees will be offered a voluntary retirement plan-- 125% of their salary for the remaining years until retirement. "Neither BSNL and MTNL will be closed or sold or disinvested. We want to make it more competitive," Union Minister <keyword id="6354886" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ravi-Shankar-Prasad">Ravi Shankar Prasad</keyword> said at a press conference today (October 23). "Other telcos spend 5% on human resources, BSNL and MTNL were spending 70% of their revenue on the same," Prasad said underscoring the importance of shedding manpower at the two companies. For example, if a 53-year old employee opts of voluntary retirement, he/she will get 125% of the salary for the next seven years until retirement. This won't be forced, it will be 'voluntary' retirement, Prasad explained. In addition, soveriegn bonds worth ₹15,000 crore will be raised and serviced by BSNL to get the resources needed to compete in a tough telecom market led by Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio, Sunil Mittal-led Airtel, and the Birla Group led Vodafone Idea. The government also plans to make BSNL sell its 4G spectrum for additional money. BSNL is saddled with a debt of ₹13,000 crore, and accumulated losses estimated at ₹14,000 crore. "These are strategic assets of India. You know that BSNL plays an important role when there are natural disasters in Nepal, Kashmir and other parts of India," Prasad said explaining why the Indian government wouldn't like to sell the two companies. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/unpaid-bsnl-employees-react-to-the-current-crisis/articleshow/71063961.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">An unpaid BSNL employee believes the company will survive the current turmoil</a>

India decides to merge MTNL and BSNL and offer voluntary retirement to many of its employees

<ul><li><keyword id="1553175" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vodafone-Idea">Vodafone Idea</keyword> offered some 10,000 employees an average increment of 9% along with 97% bonus pay. </li><li>Airtel offered an average raise of 7.5% to nearly 16,000 employees this June. </li><li>Jio is expected to roll out increments in August this year, while the company offered 90% bonus to roughly 15,000 employees.</li></ul>In a relief to its employees, telecom service provider Vodafone Idea gave an average increment of 9% to 10,000 employees <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/hikes-at-vodafone-idea-a-sign-of-green-shoots/articleshow/70253649.cms?from=mdr">according to an ET report</a>. The telco also extended a 97% bonus pay, the compensation above the base salary. This is the first time in two years since the merger, that the employees have received a hike. While the top performing employees got a 17% raise in their annual compensation. The employees did not receive hikes in the last two years due to mounting losses. The telecom player might have missed one increment cycle but its increments are better than that of its rivals — Airtel and Jio. Airtel offered an average raise of 7.5% to nearly 16,000 employees in June, the same as last year. Jio is expected to give it hikes in August this year. The merger between Vodafone and Idea Cellular had shrunk the total employee base. Vodafone laid off over 100,000 employees, at the time of merger. <keyword id="6354504" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-jio">Reliance Jio</keyword>’s entry and its deep discounts has disrupted the telecom market, stressing all its players and affecting their profits. It has also been eating into the subscriber market as well. Jio added nearly 16 million rural subscribers during the last quarter of 2018-19, according to the <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/reliance-jio-gains-from-incumbents-loss-in-rural-india-says-trai-report-119071501546_1.html">Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Performance Indicator Report</a>. While Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea lost around 20 million and 13 million, respectively. Vodafone Idea shares rose by 2.97% to ₹12 in morning trade today. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-fate-of-180000-bsnl-unpaid-employees-hangs-in-balance-as-fears-of-a-shutdown-loom-large/articleshow/69954923.cms">The fate of 180,000 BSNL unpaid employees hangs in balance as fears of a shutdown loom large</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/mukesh-ambanis-reliance-jio-collaborates-with-mark-zuckerbergs-facebook-to-launch-digital-literacy-program-in-india/articleshow/70066803.cms">Mukesh Ambani and Mark Zuckerberg join hands to target millions of India's first time internet users</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/5g-spectrum-auctions-might-have-a-buy-now-pay-later-scheme/articleshow/70190419.cms">5G spectrum auctions might have a ‘buy now pay later’ scheme</a>

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100,000 people working with BSNL vendors are likely to go empty handed

Prerna Sindwani

An unpaid BSNL employee believes the company will survive the current turmoil

Katya Naidu

BSNL which is yet to pay August salaries wants to give an attractive retirement package to 80,000 employees

Prerna Sindwani

The fate of 180,000 BSNL unpaid employees hangs in balance as fears of a shutdown loom large

Katya Naidu

Legal experts argue that Supreme Court is protecting employers and not unpaid employees

Prerna Sindwani

BSNL employee unions call for nationwide hunger strike on Monday for delay in relief package

PTI

India decides to merge MTNL and BSNL and offer voluntary retirement to many of its employees

Sriram Iyer

Vodafone Idea offers salary hike to employees after two years

Prerna Sindwani