Amid Mounting Vacancies, Railways Opt to Re-Hire Retirees — Unions Raise Red Flags

New Delhi: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has expressed its opposition to the Railway Board’s recent directive to continue re-engaging retired railway staff on a contract basis to fill non-gazetted posts in Pay Levels 1 to 9. In a statement issued Monday, CITU called for the immediate initiation of regular recruitment to address the growing number of vacancies in the Indian Railways.

According to the Railway Board’s letter dated 20 June 2025—following earlier communications in October and December 2024—retired personnel may be re-engaged as volunteers, with preference given to those from the same pay level, though those from up to three levels higher may also be considered.

CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen criticised the move, stating that it bypasses recruitment of new workers despite over 2.5 to 3 lakh existing vacancies.

The trade union also raised concerns about the long-term implications of such decisions, suggesting that they contribute to restructuring the workforce in a way that undermines job security and workers’ rights.

The Indian Railways already employs more than 6 lakh contract workers, while around 12 lakh are regular employees. The union noted that the surrender of sanctioned posts alongside the delay in recruitment has led to growing workloads and staff shortages across departments.

He added that safety-sensitive roles are also affected, which could have serious consequences for railway operations and passenger safety. CITU has called on the Railway Board to withdraw the re-engagement directive and initiate a time-bound recruitment process.

CITU also urged other railway unions to remain vigilant and respond collectively to what it views as a shift toward more insecure forms of employment in the public sector.