The Hindu Business Line : Over 300 ONGC ex-staff apply for re-employment

New Delhi April 30 Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's advertisement to woo back its former employees, especially in the core activities — geosciences, engineering and finance — saw over 300 candidates responding. A senior ONGC executive said, "Of the over 300 applications received, we have shortlisted 130-140 candidates." The company is likely to hold interviews of the candidates sometime in May.

The company had also worked out a set of parameters to ensure that the option to rejoin the company was not misused, he said. ONGC, which has experienced increased instances of talent poaching, was one of first state-owned companies to come out with an offer to former employees still active in exploration and production (E&P) sector and want to rejoin. The company had come out with an advertisement in November last year.

Although the company has a policy of re-employment, this move would give a one-time opportunity for former executives in the specialised disciplines, who have acquired enhanced professional skills and experience, to rejoin, he told Business Line. In the last five years (2002-2006), the company has lost about 500 employees involved in exploration, drilling, production and technical activities. The reasons for this attrition were mainly attractive salary package in the private sector, and better career and growth prospects, the executive said.

Concerned at increased instances of talent poaching, ONGC has been pressing for greater autonomy in deciding employees' remuneration. In the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) regime, instances of poaching of trained technical employees by private sector competitors have also arisen. The movement is more prominent among the middle and senior level officials belonging to specialised cadres. "These are the critical areas, which matter to a company in exploration and production business," he added.

Attrition rate low

Terming the overall attrition rate as low at present, the executive said, "It was a cause of concern." ONGC lost close to 260 employees from exploration, drilling, production, and technical disciplines in 2006 alone, of the total 315 who had quit the company.

It has about 9,000 middle and senior level employees at present. On a monthly basis, the flight of human assets and natural retirement was about 50, he added.

Stating that huge investments are made on training these employees, the official said that the company would like to tap the experienced hands. The problem was that the company was not able to recruit people at middle and senior level management due to regulations. Therefore, the company hires at the entry level and invests in them. But after a few years, private firms poach on these skilled employees, leaving the company to hire more trainees.

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