From Kalina, Mumbai came one of the most alarming visuals where 25,000 job seekers congregated to apply for airport jobs on the 16th of July. The recruitment drive was initiated by Air India Airport Services; sources said the vacancies for the job were less than 10% of the crowd gathered. The unanticipated hordes of job seekers caused an almost stampede-like situation.
After learning about the vacancies, applicants rushed towards gate no. 5 near the Sahar Cargo complex in huge numbers after a notification dated June 28 stated “AI Airport Services Ltd (formerly known as Air India Air Transport Services Limited) (AIASL) wishes to fill existing vacancies as per estimated requirements and maintain a waiting list for future vacancies. Indian Nationals (Male & Female) who meet the requirements may apply for various posts at Mumbai International Airport on a Fixed Term Contract basis (3 years), renewable subject to performance and company needs. The number of vacancies is indicative and may vary as per operational requirements (sic).”
The vacancies were mainly for maintenance staff positions where the average salary was ₹25,000. These were all walk-in interviews, however, such a humongous turnout led to lengthy chaotic situations and police intervention was needed. PTI reported that most of these candidates were freshers and had recently graduated high school.
After witnessing such an immense turnout, the recruiters instructed them to submit their CVs and head home. According to authorities, the eligible candidates will be contacted soon.
George Abram, general secretary of the Aviation Industry Employees Guild, was critical of how this entire mess panned out. While interacting with ToI, he lamented, “People came for thousands of vacancies. They brought demand drafts, but we told them not to pay anything yet and that they would be called in later.”
Such a colossal turnout echoed a similar incident in the Bharuch region of Gujarat where hundreds of job seekers had turned up for a vacancy of only 10 positions.
This has raised dismaying concerns about the overall unemployment issues in the country at the same time about organising such recruitment drives.
Insights from agencies
