Jagatsinghpur,October 19 ( Odisha.in) Production has severely affected in Paradeep Phosphate Ltd, at Paradip due to ongoing mass dharana by thousands of contract labourers since Wednesday, resultin loss to the tune of lakhs of rupees daily.
According to sources , more than one thousands contract labourers have resorted mass agitation and sat on dharana in front of PPL factory to fulfill their five point chatter of demands.
A spokesman of the labour union told Odisha.in , though 1135 labourers have been working in PPL since past 23 years , PPL authorities have ignored their basic demands. Tripartite agreement was made between district administration, labour department and PPL management & Paradeep Phosphate Mazdoor Union to solve their demands on 14th May, 2005, 2nd February 2007 and 9th April, 2007 but PPL authority did not care to fulfil their genuine demands.
Their main demands of the agitating workers are ,to increase their wages, provide residential accomodation in PPL plant areas, drinking water and electricity facilities and also to provide bonus.
Union leader Mr S.Moahnaty told Odisha.in that after taking over Oswal Fertilizers plant from Oswal authorities, Indian Farmers Fertilizers Co operative Ltd have regularized its contract labourers and increased their salary but Juari Birla groups owners of the PPL have ignored the demands of their labourers.
These labourers are supposed to pack 3000 metric tones of fertilizers per day of DAP plant. Production of fertilizers have severely been affected at DAP plant and would affect production in other two plants if strike will continue for three to four days. Contract labourers have alleged that PPL authority has given Rs 10.000 towards bonus to its regular employees but not a single paisa has given to contract labourers during puja festival.
Mr P.K.Das a senior officer, PPL has said that production has been badly affected due to strike , but the loss has not yet been estimated due to Puja holiday in the plant site. Meanwhile, one section of police has deployed to avert law and order situation in PPL..
Odisha.in