According to a new circular from the management, employees of the airline availing sick leaves will have to get themselves tested by the company's doctors within 48 hours. Previously the span was 72 hours

With a debt burden of Rs 40,000 crore, national carrier Air India is not exactly in the pink of health. But the company expects the highest standards in work ethics from its employees. For instance, in a new order Air India has asked its crew members, who are availing medical leaves, to report within 48 hours of their illness. MiD DAY has a copy of the circular. Earlier, employees had to report to the company's medical officers within 72 hours A senior Air India official said the span has been reduced in order to bring in some efficiency within the organisation. "There have been times when crew members report sick and do not turn up for days. The idea is to rein in those who have been found violating the rules," he said.


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The circular issued a few days ago by the in-flight services department however, does provide some leeway. "In the case of prolonged illness, employees will have to report within 15 days," it said.

The crew members' association has smelt a rat in the decision. A senior cabin crew staffer who wished not to be named said: "An employee who is sick or bedridden and may not be able to travel or walk down to the AI medical department within 48 hours. And who will be held responsible if the crew develop some problems due to exposure to a contagious illness?"

Payday
Air India management has been acting tough against the employee unions these days. However, last Tuesday the company paid salaries for the month of May to its 40,000 employees. The payments followed a slew of allegations and threats by unions demanding immediate payment of their dues. Earlier, a pilots' body had raised serious questions about the flying safety and working condition of cockpit as well as cabin crew in Air India.

Strapped for cash, Air India had delayed paying salaries and other compensation to pilots and thousands of other employees. It has also missed payments to vendors, including fuel and ground transportation suppliers.
On Friday, the government scotched rumours surrounding the future of the debt-ridden airline, saying that short to medium term measures will help in reviving the airline which was bearing the brunt of stiff competition and rise in fuel prices.

Promises
"The government of India attaches utmost importance to the credible revival of Air India," said the civil aviation ministry in a statement, adding that global economic recession and high jet fuel prices were the reasons behind the airline's slide.

According to the statement, the highly competitive aviation market in the country also made the possibility of an early recovery more difficult.
"Government of India has taken several steps to tide over the crisis," the statement said. It also mentioned that the UPA in the 2011-12 budget had allocated Rs 2,000 crore for the airline and that another Rs 1,200 crore was expected to be infused this year.

Money trouble
Currently the airline, which is laden with a cumulative debt of Rs 40,000 crore it incurred over aircraft acquisition and as short-term loans to maintain its operations, expects a fresh equity infusion of Rs 1,200 crore in July.

The cash-strapped carrier is also seeking a total infusion of Rs 17,000 crore, which includes Rs 5,000 crore for this fiscal year alone.
Earlier, the government had infused Rs 4,000 crore in the previous two fiscal year. The airline was also promised another tranche of Rs 2,000 crore this year in the federal budget.

PM STEPS IN
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that he has asked the ministerial group overseeing the turnaround of the debt-ridden national carrier to come out with their recommendations fast.
"I will request (Finance Minister) Pranab Mukherjee to take expeditious decisions in the (Air India turnaround) matter," he told a group of editors from the print media on Wednesday.