Date:23/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/11/23/stories/2006112306780300.htm

ONGC invites former employees to rejoin

Richa Mishra

Looking at inducting more employees in geosciences

New Delhi , Nov. 22

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), which has in recent past experienced increased instances of talent poaching, has decided to take back on board former employees.

A senior company executive said, "We are targeting former ONGC employees who are still active in E&P sector and want to rejoin the company."

Employment policy

The company already has a policy of re-employment and this would give a one-time opportunity to the former executives from geo-sciences, engineering and finance disciplines, who have acquired enhanced professional skills and experience, to rejoin ONGC he told Business Line. Asked which discipline the company was targeting more, the official said, "we are looking at inducting more in the field of geosciences."

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 the cadre of geo-physicists, drillers, petroleum geologists, petroleum engineers and those in production, the official stated. These are the critical areas, which matter to a company in exploration and production, he added.

Attrition rate

The overall attrition rate, though low at present, was a cause of concern, the official said. ONGC lost close to 100 middle and senior level officials in 2004-05 alone. It has about to 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 on the experienced hand.

Welcome back

The problem is 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.

Besides, it has been receiving requests from a number of former Ongcian's to rejoin the company. As regards what number of former employees was the company was looking for employing, he said, it would depend on the requirement.