THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The employees of HLL Lifecare Ltd under the aegis of Save HLL Lifecare Forum launched an indefinite strike on Monday against the Union government’s move to privatise the company.
Addressing the workers, former chief minister Oommen Chandy asked chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene in the matter and convene an all-party meeting to resolve the issue.
He said the Congress will fight against the move to disinvest the miniratna PSU. He alleged that the centre had ignored the strides made by the company and was planning to privatise it on the basis of the recommendation made by Niti Ayog.
The employees told DC that the management led by CMD Dr. Rakesh Kumar Vats, a senior bureaucrat, and Mr M. Ayyappan, principal advisor to the company, were helpless in placing the concern of the employees before the central government.
Mr Ayyappan was reappointed in November after his retirement as CMD in May 2017 which has been opposed by the AITUC and INTUC.
Dr. Vats, 58, has the rank of additional secretary in the union health ministry and belongs to the West Bengal cadre. He visits HLL Lifecare for a few days every month.
“Dr. Vats is part of the government and will not oppose its move. We have also approached the prime minister, Public Enterprises Selection Board and Central Vigilance Commission as Mr Ayyappan was appointed as principal adviser on a consolidated pay of Rs 2.37 lakh per month without Vigilance clearance. The CMD draws a basic pay of Rs 1.44 lakh proving that Mr Ayyappan is above him,” a trade union leader told DC.
It is learnt that the company may appoint three more new officers – legal advisor, asset valuer and transaction adviser. These officers along with Mr Ayyappan and the CMD will take a final call on disinvestment.
