The learned experts/members have given their valuable advice.
Kindly clarify that you have left the company or you are still employed with this PSU? If yes, you shall be completing 2 years in April 2012.
1. You have mentioned ' At the time of joining we were made to sign an apprenticeship contract (but NOT on a stamp paper)".
The process of joining is usually:
-advertisement for post, then submission of employment application, then interview or set of interviews, then selection, and then offer is made and offer letter is issued in which designation and descripttion of KRA's and remuneration is made and time limit for acceptance of job offer is explained.
-Once the offer is accepted, candidate is asked to join, and appointment letter is issued and joining report signed by reportee and reporting authority is submitted and reportee is inducted. Then the various other papers/forms are supplied e.g. PF, Gratuity, mediclaim/group mediclaim policy, and employee is supposed to submit them
-Company may obtain undertaking in one of the forms/or on separate form, that all aspects of the job and conditions have been explained.
In your case has the company issued you any offer letter, appointment letter, and if yes have they stated in your offer letter/appointment letter that you shall have to sign one apprenticeship contract? And is it mentioned that the format of this apprenticeship contract is enclosed or shall be supplied to you later etc?
Or have they issued only apprenticeship contact only, and no offer letter, appointment letter.
Another question that has come up is that if apprenticeship contract signed on plain paper/not on stamp paper is valid? The learned experts/members of the forum are requested to give their opinion. The amount involved is Rs. 5000/per month i.e. 25% of the wages, which shall run for 2 years. Moreover the 25% of the wages deducted shall be refunded without interest after 2 years of continued service.
You shall remain on training for 1 year and after training, on probation for 1 year.
Is it mentioned in your appointment letter that if found successful in completion of training, you shall be placed on probation for 1 year, i.e. you shall to be informed in writing that you shall be removed from job after training, or allowed to be on probation.
Irrespective of training and probation duration, this apprenticeship contact shall remain in force for 2 years.
2. Learned Mr. V. Vasudevan has given their valuable opinion that “The conditions imposed amount to unfair practice, though you have signed up the contract. Please post the details of training, if any imparted during the 1st one year - internal on the spot and external and ascertain the actual expenditure of training. Also during the probation, what profile was given - whether a regular manager's profile etc."
The unfair practices are rampant. Many of the unfair practices are illegal.
The employees are subdued by pressure, coercion.
You may update the details in forum.
You may show all documents to your service lawyer/law firm.