Ministry of Railways denies reports of major layoff

Ministry of Railways has denied claims of compulsory retirement being handed out to its employees as a part of a layoff scheme. The Ministry in its letter clarified that the notice issued is regarding the routine performance review of Railway employees and has nothing to do with any sort of layoffs as was being reported.

New Delhi:As multiple reports claimed that the Indian Railways was taking steps to 'reduce a sizeable number of its employees', the Ministry of Railways issued a clarification and termed the reports as 'without any substance'.

Railway Ministry clarifies

The Ministry in its letter clarified that the notice issued was regarding the routine performance review of Railway employees and has nothing to do with any sort of layoffs, as was being reported.

"It is a routine exercise which is required to be conducted by the administration in public interest and the same has been conducted in previous years as well. Any information regarding the number of employees being retired is without any substance," the clarification letter read.

Besides, the Railways said that about 1,84,262 employees were recruited in various categories during the period 2014-2019.

Various reports had earlier claimed that Railways was eyeing a major layoff by compulsorily retiring a sizeable number of its employees.

The reports also suggested that all the Zonal Managers were being asked to prepare a list of those who have completed 55 years of age or who would complete 30 years of service in Indian Railways by the first quarter of 2020.