the goan I network
VASCO
Over 60 workers of a Verna-based industrial unit on Saturday agitated over the sudden closure notice issued by the company a few days ago, fearing a bleak future ahead.
Speaking to reporters, the aggrieved workers said the company had suddenly issued a notice to them claiming that due to various reasons, including financial issues, the company had to shut down permanently and that, employees should not report to work from Friday.
Shankar Pandit of the Bhartiya Kamgar Sena said they would take up the cause of employees to ensure them due justice. “We had earlier placed a charter of demands but the company had merely sought time on vague excuses for around two years. We then took the matter with the labour commissioner but there too, the company started giving excuses and we may now have to approach the courts.”
“The company has not placed a notice on the plant stating that the company will shut down permanently, leaving the 64 workers unemployed and with no future,” said Pandit.
“The reason cited by the company on financial issues is dubious because for the last two years, workers have been working in three shifts and the company was having sound production. We don’t believe that financial issue is the real reason for the closure,” he added.
Vijay Desai, general secretary of the local employees union, said the employees should have been taken into confidence before suddenly putting up a notice on the factory.
“We were surprised with the notice. We are not sure what to do next and where to go. We don’t agree with the company citing financial issues. I have been working for 20 years with the company and we have never been idle any day.”
“We feel the management is citing a wrong reason to throw us out. We appeal to the government and the labour department to help us in the battle,” said Desai.
Another employee, Concy D’Souza, added: “We have been working for 21 years now, but till date the company had never even made an agreement with us. We have to get our rights and this is not correct on the behalf of the company to terminate our services without any prior information. Where are we to go now? They should have at least informed us. Our charter of demands are also pending for the last few years.”
