Nazira — The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has responded to ongoing employee protests at its Assam Asset in Nazira, asserting that the demonstrations over the discontinuation of an overtime payment are based on a misrepresentation of facts. The company cited low production and high manpower costs as key reasons for its financial losses in Assam in recent years.
In a statement released amid the sit-in protest by members of the ONGC Purbanchal Employees’ Association (OPEA), ONGC said that the payment in question was “not admissible” under its guidelines and that the decision to discontinue it was made in the interest of operational sustainability.
“The company is losing money while continuing its operations at Assam for the last few years; one of the reasons being low production and high manpower,” the statement read, directly addressing the financial strain the state operations are facing.
The corporation also rejected union allegations that medical benefits were being curtailed, clarifying that the change from direct credit to a reimbursement model was made to prevent misuse and ensure accountability in its welfare schemes for both active and retired employees.
Despite its financial challenges, ONGC reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Assam, emphasizing continued investment in local hiring and development. “The company is investing heavily in the local community through various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes,” it said, highlighting the Siu-Ka-Pha Hospital in Sivasagar as a prime example of its contribution to regional healthcare.
Responding to the ongoing employee unrest, ONGC described the protest as peaceful and maintained that communication lines remain open with employee representatives to address concerns.
While acknowledging that recent operational changes may cause short-term discontent, ONGC stated that these reforms are essential for the long-term viability of its presence in Assam.