Agitation hits construction work
Hundreds of contract labourers locked the main gate of Essar steel project in Paradip on Friday, pressing for fulfillment of their long standing and eight-point charter of demands which among other things include payment of higher wages as well as proper maintenance of records of gratuity and employees provident fund (EPF) amount.
The locking of the main gate has affected the company's construction work.
“Negotiations are going on to sort out the various issues through discussions with the leaders of the Manch. Construction work has been affected due to labour unrest. Police forces have been deployed at the Essar plant site to avert any law and order problem”, said an official of Essar Steel.
Nearly 500 contact labourers who are engaged in construction work of Essar steel project alleged that they have been neglected by the company authority.
They had intensified stir on March 10, seeking fulfillment of their eight-point charter of demands and the company had assured to fulfill their demands within one month. But even after five months of the commitment, the agitating labourers stated that company is yet fulfill their demands and has instead threatened to terminate them if resort to agitation for fulfillment of the demands.
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Secretary of Essar Labourers Surkhya Manch, Tofan Singh said, “The company has issued gate pass to its labourers without the name of company and other information. After allegation, company has returned back the same and has not yet issued fresh passes to them.” “The contractors have been paid less wages as per scheduled rate and the labourers engaged in construction work are living in a pathetic condition. Gratuity and EPF amount have not been properly maintained and the labourers have been harassed.. Moreover, there are no facilities of drinking water for labourers”, he added.
Add to this, there are no safety measures like supply of shoes, helmets to these labourers as a result of which labourers have faced accidents on a daily basis, Singh stated.
Other labourers have alleged that company authorities and contractors have tortured and also threatened to terminate from works if they intensify stir against the company.