To implement pay parity,Air India gets two top posts

The key pay parity reforms in AI are set to be driven by the govt in next couple of months

The key pay parity reforms in Air India are set to be driven by the government in next couple of months,as the civil aviation ministry is learnt to be in the process of finalising the creation of two top posts at the state-owned entity.

A senior civil aviation ministry official is set to join Air India as officer on special duty (OSD) to the chairman and managing director (CMD) to facilitate the implementation of the Dharmadhikari report on pay parity. Simultaneously,the ministry has also moved the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PSEB) for creation of a separate post of joint managing director (JMD) in the airline.

Syed Nasir Ali,director in the ministry,and tasked by the civil aviation minister Ajit Singh to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Dharmadhikari report,would be assuming the responsibility of an OSD as an additional charge to his current assignment in a couple of days,said government sources.

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While the JMD post is likely to be cleared in a month,Alis appointment may come through in a day or two. Ali would be faced with the challenging task of implementation of the report at a time when 400-odd pilots who have been on strike,have rejected the report as being discriminatory and benefiting their counterparts from erstwhile Indian Airlines.

He is likely to have a three-member team,including one each from Indian Airlines and Air India,to assist him in the implementation process. Singh had earlier said,while nominating Ali as chairman of the Integration Committee that it would take on board any concerns that employees may have and address anomalies.

The implementation committee should include both top and mid-level management representatives so that it gets a holistic view on the HR problems of the amalgamated entity, said a senior airline executive,citing the case of Dharmadhikari committee where he alleged that pre-merger Air India could not be adequately represented as the airlines HR and Industrial Relations department is headed by erstwhile Indian Airlines officials.

Apart from being tasked with Air India matters in the ministry,Ali,a 1990 IRS officer,has been credited with successful passage of the Hajj operations,including introducing competitive bidding for private airlines to ferry pilgrims,reducing the subsidy bill and bringing in measures to improve the operations and facilities to them.

Keeping control

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A senior civil aviation ministry official is set to join Air India as OSD to the CMD

The ministry has also moved the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PSEB) for creation of a separate post of joint managing director (JMD) in the airline

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