Tamil Nadu: The Electricity Board has issued an order granting thermal power plant employees two Saturdays off every month.
The Electricity Board operates five thermal power plants with a total capacity of approximately 5,120 MW, including Ennore, North Chennai, Mettupalayam, Thoothukudi, and Neyveli. All Saturdays were working days for employees working at these thermal power plants.
However, the second Saturday was a holiday for the Board office and electricity payment center, and the remaining Saturdays were working days. Subsequently, the fourth Saturday was also declared a holiday starting in March 2018.
Consequently, trade unions had been demanding that regular workers at thermal power plants be granted two Saturdays off every month, the second and fourth.
After considering this request, the Electricity Board has issued an order allowing thermal power plant employees to take paid leave on the second and fourth Saturdays.
Extended working hours: Meanwhile, the Electricity Board has ordered extended working hours. Accordingly, the working hours, which were previously from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., have been extended to 5:45 p.m.
In addition, employees can participate in maintenance work on a somewhat rotational basis. Those who report to work on that day will only be given alternate days off. However, no extra salary will be paid, according to a press release issued by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
