To protest the decision of Nirma group to relieve 2,300 employees from its Saurashta Chemicals Pvt Ltd (SauChem), based at Porbandar, workers have threatened a bandh on Friday (February 24) if the company fails to meet their demands. Leader of SauChem workers' union, Rajendra Gokani, said: "The union has received unofficial message from company authorities claiming that workers are not fulfilling their demands. If we fulfill the company's demand, the company shall fulfill ours. We are firm that if the company does not give us an official response fulfilling our demands, come Friday and we will observe a bandh."SauChem executive director C J Bhatt said: "There are no developments yet and we will continue with our stand."Assistant Labour Commissioner A I Shiekh said the notice has already been issued to the company on Monday with seven days' deadline. "If the company's legal advisors suggest them to accept their mistake and withdraw the relieving notices, the matter will be solved. As per our experience this is quite possible." He said the company may seek another two days to consider the matter, he maintained. "The state government has taken up the issue and is in talks with management of SauChem," Shiekh said.
