SAIL to rationalise workforce by 20,000 till 2011-12

Domestic steel giant Steel Authority of India (SAIL) will see its workforce shrink by 20,000 till 2011-12 as it continues with the rationalisation of manpower aimed at increasing competitiveness and productivity, the government today said.

"The rationalisation will be done mainly through normal superannuation of employees on attaining the age of 60 years as well as through voluntary separation schemes," Minister of State for Steel A Sai Prathap said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

The manpower will reduce by 20,000 till 2011-12 if the existing trend of separation of workers continues, he said. The navratna company's manpower strength stood at 1,21,295 at the beginning of the current fiscal.

"SAIL has been rationalising its manpower on an ongoing basis," he said adding, with rationalisation of manpower, several systemic changes such cluster system of working, flexibility in deployment, automated working and adoption of best practices have been promoted leading to improved efficiency and better work culture.

Earlier, SAIL had said that the rationalisation was also aimed at reducing employee cost by Rs 3,50,000 crore per annum. The company had seen a net reduction of 7,500 employees by way of superannuation and voluntary retirements in 2008-09.