Dunlop lay-off notice to be withdrawn soon: Ruia

Dunlop India today said there was no question of closing the Shahgunj factory and the lay-off notice would be withdrawn soon without any retrenchment.

"New production planning is underway and the lay-off notice will be withdrawn soon," Group chairman Pawan K Ruia told PTI from Bangkok.

While he did not give any specific time by when the factory would become operational, sources indicate it could be within a month's time.

Workers would get half of the wages while new production planning was under preparation, they said.

About 925 employees feared loss of jobs after Dunlop put up a lay-off notice at the factory gate in Hoogly district two days ago, shocking workers who believed that the management under Kolkata-based Ruia group would close shop.

Ruia had recently blamed poor law and order as a reason for the company's inability to run the unit properly, besides operational constraints.

"There is rampant theft in the factory and police action is not sufficient," Ruia had said.

CITU leader Shantasri Chatterjee alleged that the lay-off notice was illegal as it required the state's permission which the management had not sought.

The West Bengal labour secretary and labour commissioner could not be contacted.

Meanwhile, the Ambattur unit of Dunlop was functioning normally.