Not being paid minimum wages, allege GHCL contractual workers

A group of contractual labourers from the Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd's (GHCL) soda ash plant in Surtapada, Junagadh district, have claimed that they were not being paid minimum wage because of the unholy nexus of the company officials and the labour contractors who have support of local politicians.

Seven workers who have been denied entry into plant since May 11 further claimed that they have been subjected to such exploitation for over two decades, and because they raised their voices to demand what was rightfully theirs, they have been fired.

However, GHCL officials have denied all allegations and said the company was merely compelling the labour contractors to comply to labour laws and pay full wages to the labourers that they supplied to the company.

"After over two decade we, nearly 700 labourers, decided to raise our voice against the exploitation by the labour contracts and staged a sit in protest from May 8. But, in order to break our unity seven of us were fired by the contractors and our entry was prohibited," said Chandu Pathak, who is one of the seven workers who has been sacked. "Because of this, other workers have back tracked. They are afraid that they would be targeted and would lose their livelihood. We even tried to talk to the company authority but we did get response from them," Pathak said.

Another sacked worker Jeetu Barad said, "This is all because of the unholy nexus between the company officials and the labour contractors, who are wards of powerful local politicians that is sitting MLAs and MP of the district." According to workers, they were being paid Rs 80-120 as daily wage while they were entitled for Rs 210.10 as per government norms. They said that the big labour contractors with whom the company had tie up were relatives of two local Congress MLA and one BJP MP from Junagadh.

"Other workers and their family members from the near by 15 villages have been directly or indirectly been threatened by labour contractors or his men," Pathak claimed. The workers on Monday also submitted a memorandum to the Labour Commissioner in Gandhinagar.

GHCL managing director R S Jalan denied all allegations made by the labourers and said, "The area is very politically sensitive. Hence some workers are taking advantage of this and using pressure technique to make us agree to their demand."

"In fact the picture is very opposite of what is being told. We are being strict with the labour contractors so that they do not exploit the workers. We want to ensure that workers get the full wage as per rules," Jalan said, adding that in coming days the workers will thank them for what the company was doing.