The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) will conduct ‘competence test’ of their outsourced employees who comprise 70 per cent of the staff. Junior and Assistant Engineers, clerks and other outsourced employees of the MCG will soon have to sit for a written test to “prove” their competence.
In a recently conducted ability test for MCG employees, only 16 engineers out of 39 who appeared made the grade. “The reason why we conducted the test was to see how confident these engineers, clerks are with their work and know how to tackle problems. Earlier we were disappointed to know that a majority of engineers could not clear the test. The corporation will terminate the services of those who will fail to clear their test,” an MCG official said. “We have repeatedly asked the State Government to fill the huge number of vacancies in MCG so that we don’t have to depend on outsourced employees,” he added.
This move has panicked the outsourced employees as after getting the jobs on the basis of qualifications they were contended of securing the posts. “We are well qualified for the job. This is just an attempt to prove us wrong and shows that we are incompetent,” said a junior engineer, who refused to be named.
The logic behind the move is that the engineers often get “fooled” by private contractors. “MCG has decided to conduct the test as it feels that some of the employees are not well-versed with the basics. The test will add value to the knowledge this employee already possess. We feel this test will generate their interest in the work and enhance their skills,” the official further said added. “This will be a review or a refresher test for the outsourced employees,” senior town planner, Sudhir Chauhan of MCG said.