The bipartite talks between the West Bengal government and the management of Shalimar Paints regarding withdrawal of suspension of work at the company's unit in Howrah remained inconclusive today.
After the bipartite meeting with the company's management, state labour Minister Malay Ghatak said both parties have agreed to attend the next meeting on July 23.
State's agricultural marketing minister Arup Roy, Labour Commissioner Jawaid Akhtar and other senior officials were present in the meeting.
Shalimar Paints Ltd had declared a suspension of work at its factory in Howrah yesterday, a move which affected around 350 workers.
A company notice in this regard was pasted on the closed gates of the factory when workers turned up for duty.
On behalf of the management, the company's Plant Manager(HR) Sanjay Mazumdar, who attended the meeting, told reporters he has informed the government about an incident of fire at the Howrah unit in March.
Over the last four months, all efforts were on to resume operations and during that period the management paid its workers full wages, Mazumdar said.
Even as the management was constrained to suspend operations due to an indefinite delay in resuming operations at the plant, Mazumdar said the company had offered employment at their units in other states to its 154 permanent workers and office staff. The rest were working on contractual basis.
Both the ministers, however, turned down the company's move for employment at units in other states saying "It will not be economically viable for the poorly paid workers."
The ministers also said the company's Howrah unit was yet to get clearances for fire and pollution control.
Mazumdar said they would discuss the outcome of the meeting at the highest level in the company before joining the July 23 meeting, while reiterating their commitment for the state.
