Workers of closed Pithoragarh Magnesite and Minerals factory seeks relief package from state government
Workers of closed Pithoragarh Magnesite and Minerals factory seeks relief package from state government
B.D. Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Aug 14
More than over 300 workers of Magnesite and Minerals factory, located here which was closed in 1998, have pleaded with the state government to issue a relief package since they were not paid by the closed company and without any jobs, they and their families are suffering hardships in their routine life.
The Magnesite company that manufactured dead burnt Magnesite bricks, was owned by Late JK Jhunjhunwala.
” After the dispute of the company reached Allahabad high court via Lower Labour court, it is yet to be solved, but the poor workers, who were mostly locals became the worst sufferers,” said M.M. Joshi a labour union worker who was aligned with the company labourers at the time it gone closed.
“While the owners continuously tried to make the matter sub-judice by filing it in various courts, the poor workers kept on waiting to get their dues and employment,” said Joshi.
According to C.M. Awasthi, another former employee of company, who is fighting for workers dues at various fronts, said that most of the workers have died while awaiting their dues and reemployment. “The case is still pending with Allahabad High court and unlikely to be solved soon as the owners of the factory do not want it settled,” said Awasthi.
“If calculated at present rates, the company owes every worker a sum of Rs 20 lakh as the company was fully locked after July 1998,” said Awasthi.
“As remaining workers and their families are suffering hardships and owners of company moving from court to court to refrain from giving payments of dues, the state government should come forward to give relief to ex-workers of Magnesite company and announce a relief package on humanitarian grounds,” said C.M. Awasthi, a former workers and union leader of Magnesite company.
