Public sector general insurance companies have clamped down on appointments in the past four financial years amid rising losses and a falling market share.

Data revealed by the central government in the Rajya Sabha shows two public sector insurance companies — National Insurance and Oriental Insurance — have made no fresh appointments in the last four years, while United India Insurance hired just 20 in this period.

By contrast, stock market-listed New India Assurance recruited 1,197, while LIC appointed 11,066 in four years.

Insurance sector employees feel the lack of clarity is hurting the public sector insurance companies.

The central government in the 2018-19 budget had announced the merger of three public sector general insurance companies — National Insurance, Oriental and United India — and subsequently list it on the stock exchanges.

That plan, which had the backing of the unions, was put on the back burner and a new plan was announced to privatise one general insurance company in the Union budget of 2021-22.

“It is utter nonsense that today we are fighting amongst ourselves as well as with the private insurance companies for the same line of business,” said Shrikant Misra, general secretary, the All India Insurance Employees Association. He said that the issue of dwindling recruitment would be raised by the unions at a national conference in January.

“In general insurance companies, neither the government nor the management has been paying any attention to infusion of human capital.Especially in a service sector like general insurance, thereis a need for human intervention. We have been impressing upon the management to go for recruitment,” he said.