BSNL to axe jobs, trim manpower: report

State-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) plans to sharply scale down manpower at its beleaguered landline business, which accounts for nearly 65 per cent of its 2.77-lakh workforce, according to a report.

"Poor revenues, coupled with a steep reduction in the number of landline connections over the past three years - from some 34 million to less than 25 million - has made a sizeable number of positions and functions in the consumer fixed access (CFA) division redundant. A review of the manpower requirement is underway, but we are yet to take a call on which positions to retain and which to abolish," The Economic Times quoted a top company executive with direct knowledge of the development as saying.

BSNL is currently doing an internal assessment of whether its loss-making landline business justifies the existence of innumerable phone mechanics, telecom technical assistants, regular mazdoors and junior telecom officers, who collectively number more than a whopping 1.5 lakh, the report says.

The number of staff functions in the CFA business is directly linked to the number of active landlines. But the growing number of people surrendering their landlines has induced BSNL's senior management to consider outsourcing a host of activities, including operations and maintenance.