Kolkata, 23 July: As the Dunlop India Ltd management was keen to reopen the Sahaganj plant, a meeting with the labour unions of the plant was called at Ruia Centre on 18 July 2014. It was agreed there that the Govt of West Bengal would be approached for a tripartite settlement of the divergent issues. The Government was duly approached and the Hon’ble Labour Minister of Govt of West Bengal was kind enough to hold a meeting today.
In the meeting DIL management placed various proposals to clear the dues of the workers along with the methodology of reopening the plant of which following are the key options:
- 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. Or,
- Government will allow DIL management to sell the land and settle the dues of the workers. Or,
- 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. Or,
- WBIDC will grant a loan to DIL against the security of the land. The loan will be used for settling workers’ dues.
Hon’ble Labour Minister of Government of West Bengal wanted to assess the extent of theft that has taken place at the Sahaganj plant and has reconvened another meeting on 5 August to discuss the issue.
The DIL management is pleased with the outcome of the meeting and feels that it is a move in the right direction for an early resumption of operations at the Sahaganj plant.