PM promises AI employees will get salaries soon

New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Wednesday promised that wages and appropriate perks
would be paid to Air India employees at the earliest after the
financial problems of the ailing carrier found a resonance in
Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) with members raising
concern over non-payment of salaries.
It is an open secret that the national carrier is in
"serious difficulty", Singh said, adding that the government
has formed a Group of Ministers to look into the steps to be
taken for financial restructuring of the airline and bring it
back to normal.
"Air India doesn't have resources to pay salaries....
Whatever be the final outcome of the GoM, I can assure the
House that the government will find ways and means and ensure
that wages and salaries are paid," he said while intervening
during Question Hour.
Members raised the matter vociferously with some
saying that employees were finding it difficult to pay monthly
installments for their car or home loans as they have not been
paid salary for the last three months.
Singh said the salaries for June and July and
productivity-linked incentive for employees would be paid at
the earliest.
MoS in PMO V Narayanasamy, who replied to questions on
behalf of ailing Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi, said
the "turnaround plan and financial restructuring plan" of Air
India are presently being looked into by a group of officers
appointed by GoM.