ISLAMABAD ( ABRAR MUSTAFA )
PTCL continue its practice to sack/transfer senior and experienced employees with a very short notice. Since its privatization PTCL has offered Volunteer separation schemes (VSS) three times and that was too almost equal to forced resignations. It was witnessed in the past that people who denied accepting VSS, they were transferred to far flung areas which compelled them to resign and accept VSS with very low perks. In past, many have complained about their transfers on the ethnic and sectarian basis.
In a recent episode, PTCL claims to be giant in telecom sector has once again terminated more than 40 contractual employees with a 1 hour notice while transferred more than 50 employees without their consent or keeping ground reality in mind. Transferred employees don’t know where they supposed to report and in which office they will sit. This is definitely a psychological and financial setback for the leaving employees. An employee who was forced to resign while requesting for anonymity has told media that company is not offering any perks and privileges to employees terminated. Company once again using old tactic of transferring senior HQ staff to regions to compel them for resignations.
With such regular layoffs, employees tend to lower their performance which further deteriorating PTCL services and at the end causing loss of billions to company. Company spending billions of rupees on its marketing campaigns but not focusing on customer care due to which people leaving PTCL services and opting for services being provided by other telecom operators. Experienced employees of any company usually considered as assets but its opposite at PTCL where senior employees are being forced to leave with disrespect and later they are joining the PTCL competitors which is another setback for PTCL.
An important thing to mention here almost 40 thousands PTCL pensioners who were forced to take VSS in past, are still struggling to get their due rights even after orders are in their favor from apex court. Employees have described the recent step of terminating many as conspiracy against a national institution. Employees are in sheer disappointment and saying that they do not have any hope of justice because govt is not serious in resolving issues of PTCL employees. Terminated employees have requested PTA, and Supreme Court to look into this matter immediately and direct PTCL management to take back its decision or compensate the employees as per their rights.