Industrialists fear labour unrest in Ludhiana

After the August 25 clash that occurred due to "harassment" of migrants by the Ludhiana police, the city's industrialists are apprehensive of labour unrest in Ludhiana. In this clash, around 50 persons were hurt, albeit their injuries were minor.

More than 1.5 million workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar contribute to the workforce of Ludhiana. They constitute to more than 95 per cent of the workers in Ludhiana.

Labourers from UP and Bihar work in large numbers in Ludhiana at much lower rates, and that is why the city industrialists are worried over the whole issue.

Following the clash, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sent a three-member team comprising BJP MLA Sanjay Jha and JD (U) MLAs Aslam Azad and Devesh Chander Thakur. The team reached here on Sunday and met a number of representatives from the migrant community at the circuit house.

The Ludhiana police said people from UP and Bihar were the main cause for the rise in crime in Ludhiana and that is why, they were issuing them identity cards. While the migrant workers complained of "unnecessary harassment" in the name of issuing identity cards, the team accused the police of committing an "unconstitutional act" by segregating migrants for the purpose of issuing I-cards. Team members said the Constitution did not allow any division on the basis of either class or caste.

Speaking to Business Standard, Ranjodh Singh, managing director of G S Radiators Ltd, part of Ludhiana-based Rs 100-crore G S Group, said if such incidents occurred in Ludhiana, the industry might lose cheap labour. "So the cost of production will increase, leading to increase in prices of products and auto parts manufactured here. Ludhiana is known for its hosiery and cycle-based tiny and small-scale industry and these workers are employed in these industries."

Joginder Kumar, president, Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of India (FOTSII), said it was due to the people from UP and Bihar that Ludhiana's industry had grown over the years. "These people are very hard-working and are main contributors to the economy of Punjab; it may be industry or even agriculture. So these people should not be harassed unnecessarily."

Manuj Mehta, general manager (HR and administration), Malwa Industries Ltd, said that the word "migrant" should not be used against any Indian living in India. "If you call someone a migrant, you are creating barrier. It is from here that all problems start."

Following the visit of the fact-finding team from Bihar to the city, the police have suspended their special drive on preparing identity cards of migrants. The drive, when taken up at a later date, would be limited only to domestic labourers.

Earlier in May it was reported that industry in Punjab was facing a shortage of labour due to migration of workers from Punjab.