Gurgaon: There’s a high chance the probe against
VSS Enterprises, the firm which provided 1,700 outsourced
staff to MCG, will be inconclusive, thanks to
MCG officials who have not responded to queries sent by the commissioner, despite several reminders.
Earlier, MCG had launched probe against the manpower supplying firm, following a TOI report questioning the contract, dated January 18, 2018. But months later, heads of various departments have failed to provide information on the
outsourced staff linked to their respective departments.
Till date, departmental heads have shared details of only 700 employees. That leaves the remaining 1,000 staff with no details. In it’s report, TOI had revealed MCG was facing questions about how it had hired its contract staff, who number seven times more than its official posts, amid allegations that its coffers are being burdened by an unreasonable wage bill.
At a meet of the MCG House in January, ward 34 councillor R S Rathee raised the issue and demanded a probe into the hiring process for contract employees, and on whether MCG needed 1,750 outsourced staff. At present, it’s functioning with only 249 staffers, which is less than half the sanctioned strength of 524. But it had hired 1,750 outsourced employees, in addition to 2,000 sanitation workers from five private firms. As wage bill for these 1,750 employees, it was paying Rs 3.75 crore every month.
VSS Enterprises, based in Sector 4, won the outsourcing contract in 2015, for 5% service charge. After the company’s contract expired in 2016, it was renewed for another year without a tender. Before VSS got the contract, MCG had 700 outsourced staff provided by two companies. But the number went up to 1,750 in the fresh contract.
The committee, headed by Birender Singh, had sent three reminders to various department heads, but details of only 700 employees were furnished. “We sent three reminders but officials didn’t respond. They will be responsible for delay in probe,” said a committee member.
Councillor Rathee said, “An enquiry committee has been formed to evaluate manpower outsourcing by MCG to VSS Enterprises for 1,756 staff. But even after three reminders, information on only 700 has been received. What happened to the 1,056 others who were hired?”
According to
state policy, such contracts are executed at a 2% service charge, much lower than the 5% agreed upon in this case. Also, the service agreement between MCG and the firm did not bear the signature of any MCG official. Sources said the firm did not deposit the mandatory security amount, a month’s salary for outsourced employees, after winning the contract, which also did not bear signatures of MCG officials.
