18 Months Without NJCS Meeting: Over 40 Issues of SAIL Employees Still Pending, Case Reaches Court

– DIGITAL BHILAI NEWS – 

Bhilai steel plant | 29 July 2025

The National Joint Committee for Steel Industry (NJCS), formed to resolve employee-related matters in SAIL, has not held a full-body meeting for the past 18 months. The last meeting was conducted on 20 January 2024, but since then neither the management nor the participating trade unions have taken the initiative to convene another round.

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As a result, more than 40 critical issues of SAIL employees remain unresolved for years, creating widespread dissatisfaction among the workforce.

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Background: What is NJCS and Why It Matters?

The National Joint Committee for Steel Industry (NJCS) was established as a structured platform to ensure equal participation of SAIL management and trade unions in addressing employee-related matters. Traditionally, this committee discusses:

• Wage revisions

• Perks and benefits

• Loans and allowances

• Welfare measures for employees

Under Section 3 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, a Works Committee must hold regular discussions with representatives from both sides to ensure industrial harmony. However, the functioning of NJCS has increasingly come under scrutiny, as meetings are held at the sole discretion of SAIL management. The Director (Personnel), SAIL, serves as the convener of the NJCS.

The extended inactivity of this committee has left employees questioning its accountability and effectiveness.

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Employees’ Long-Pending Issues –

Among the major matters awaiting decisions are:

1. Wage revision agreement still pending

2. 15% MGB and 35% perks settlement not finalized

3. Decision on 39-month fitment arrears and 58-month perks arrears pending

4. Festival advance (not revised since 2008)

5. Incentive reward (not revised since 2007).

6. House building loan, vehicle loan and other withdrawn facilities not restored.

7. Furniture advance, laptop advance not implemented.

8. Gratuity ceiling-linked pension contribution pending since 2012.

9. Cluster-wise and grade-wise designations for supervisory cadre not finalized

10. House perquisite and stagnation increment facilities not implemented.

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Employees Turn to Legal Action

Frustrated with the prolonged inaction, employee representatives have now approached the judiciary. A writ petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court, and the case is expected to come up for hearing soon.

Employees believe that judicial intervention may be the only way left to break the deadlock, as repeated demands for NJCS meetings have gone unheard.

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NJCS Under Scrutiny

As per Section 3 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, a Works Committee must ensure equal participation of management and employees.

The credibility of NJCS is being increasingly questioned because:

• Meetings are not being held at regular intervals.

• Decisions are being delayed indefinitely, despite clear provisions under the Industrial Disputes Act.

• The role of the Director (Personnel) as convener has come under criticism for failing to ensure equal participation.

Experts argue that the very purpose of NJCS—ensuring fair negotiations between management and unions—is being undermined. If the court steps in, it may compel SAIL management to revive the committee’s regular functioning.

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Analysis: Impact on Employees and Industry

1. Employee Morale

Years of unresolved issues have caused frustration, eroded trust, and weakened employee morale. Workers feel that their long-standing contributions to SAIL are not being adequately recognized.

2. Industrial Relations

The deadlock is not just a matter of benefits—it is also about industrial peace and trust. If dissatisfaction continues to grow, it could disrupt industrial relations, leading to unrest and even productivity loss.

3. Financial Strain

Pending arrears, perks, and advances mean that thousands of employees are financially disadvantaged. This has a direct impact on their families and their quality of life.

4. Legal Precedent

If the Delhi High Court intervenes, it could set a precedent for how bipartite committees like NJCS should function in the future, making management more accountable.

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Conclusion

The crisis surrounding NJCS highlights a deeper issue of institutional accountability within SAIL’s industrial relations framework. With over 40 pending matters and no meetings for 18 months, employees have little choice but to seek legal remedies.

The upcoming Delhi High Court hearing could play a decisive role in reviving NJCS and pushing management towards long-overdue decisions. Until then, the workforce of SAIL continues to wait—caught between bureaucratic delays and unmet promises.

Report by – Digital Bhilai News Desk

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