West Bengal Labour Minister Maloy Ghatak today met the Dunlop India management in an effort to reopen the closed Sahagunj factory in Hoogly district and settle workers' dues.
The meeting, first under the leadership of the new labour minister, discussed various options put forward by the Dunlop management to settle the dues of the workers and reopening of the facility.
Another meeting is scheduled to be held on August 5, Ghatak said. Dunlop and unions had first met on July 18 before meeting the Minister.
Ghatak after meeting two officials of Dunlop India said representatives of management and trade unions would jointly carry out an inspection of the plant in a day or two and submit a report.
The Minister was concerned for the 550 workers of the Sahagubj plant and other workers who had retired earlier without benefits.
Dunlop management had put forward four options to clear the dues of the workers, but without pumping fresh funds.
There are four options for Dunlop management, including DIL management will transfer of required quantum of land to Government of West Bengal based on circle rate in view of the demand of the workers' unions. Government will settle the labour dues directly.
Second, government will allow DIL management to sell the land and settle the dues of the workers.
Third, DIL will transfer requisite quantum of land to the newly formed Workers' Co-operative at circle rate and all the workers' dues will shift to the Worker's Co-operative. The Co-operative will sell the land to settle the workers' dues and last WBIDC will grant a loan to DIL against the security of the land. The loan will be used for settling workers' dues.
