ONGC Assam Staff Protest Enters Day 8 Over Demands on Jobs, Pay, and Safety

The indefinite sit-in protest by the ONGC Purbanchal Employees' Association (OPEA) at the Assam Asset headquarters in Nazira has entered its eighth consecutive day, with no resolution in sight. The protest is centered around a nine-point charter of demands put forth by the union, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with ONGC’s current employment and operational practices in Assam. Despite a full week of demonstrations, the ongoing dialogue between the union and the Maharatna PSU's management has not yielded any breakthrough.

Initially launched as a symbolic black badge protest, the agitation intensified into a full-fledged sit-in on May 21. Although ONGC’s day-to-day operations have not yet been affected, the union has made it clear that more severe measures, including hunger strikes and a 'tool-down' protest, could follow if their demands continue to be ignored.

One of the core issues raised by the union is the urgent need to restart the halted recruitment process. According to OPEA General Secretary Sanjeeb Boruah, around 300 regular union-category posts had been sanctioned in 2022 for various ONGC units across Assam. However, the recruitment process was inexplicably stalled in 2023, and no further progress has been made since. Boruah criticized the ONGC management for relying increasingly on outsourcing, which he claims is depriving local youths of valuable employment opportunities.

Another major concern revolves around the cancellation of the longstanding 3-hour overtime allowance, effective from February 2025. The union argues that this arbitrary decision, made without prior notice, has adversely impacted over 1,000 employees and their families, calling it a direct blow to workers' livelihoods.

The union’s demands are not limited to recruitment and compensation issues. They are also calling for the regularization of tenure-based field operators (TBFO) and paramedical staff, many of whom have served ONGC for over two decades. In addition, they are seeking improvements in workplace safety, including timely distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and prompt action on the long-pending upgradation of Class IV fire personnel.

Further demands include rectifying disparities in field duty expenditure (FDE) paid to central workshop staff, the reinstatement of withdrawn medical benefits, and a clear policy direction against the increasing trend of privatisation and outsourcing within ONGC operations in the region.

On April 29, a delegation from ONGC's national headquarters visited Assam in an attempt to engage in discussions with union representatives. However, the talks ended without resolution, and the deadlock persists. When approached for comment, a senior official from ONGC’s Assam Asset declined to provide a statement, characterizing the matter as an "internal issue between the union and the management."

As the protest stretches into its second week, public and political pressure is mounting on ONGC to address the grievances of its workforce. The threat of escalating the protest further—through hunger strikes and work stoppages—signals the urgency of the situation and the growing unrest among employees. Without meaningful intervention from ONGC’s top management, the situation could escalate, potentially affecting the company’s operations in Assam and sparking wider labor unrest.