19th December, 2002
Ministry of Labour  


VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT SCHEME IN 169 PUBLIC SECTOR ENTERPRISES


RAJYA SABHA

The Government has introduced a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for the employees of Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) in order to effect rightsizing of these enterprises by rationalizing their surplus manpower for achieving better performance. This Scheme has been revised from time to time to enhance the voluntary Retirement compensation to the employees. Stating this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today the Minister of State for Labour Shri Ashok Pradhan said that the VRS has been introduced in 169 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) upto 31.3.2001. He said that VRS is voluntary in nature and is based upon the option of individual employees and its acceptance by the managements of the CPSEs. He also said that such manpower rationalization is a continuous process. Hence, the percentage of employees likely to be reduced can not be qualified.