Sacked factory workers seek reinstatement
Dozens of factory workers staged a protest demonstration outside a pharma company in the Sansarpur Terrace industrial area of Jaswan Pragpur Assembly constituency in Kangra district, expressing outrage over their sudden termination without prior notice.
Led by Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) state president Madan Rana, the workers raised slogans against the factory management, demanding immediate reinstatement and an end to what they termed as unjust exploitation. Rana called the retrenchment an injustice, urging the state government to intervene and protect the livelihoods of the affected workers.
He further alleged that the company had failed to pay enhanced salaries, arrears, and bonuses despite multiple representations from the workers. “Instead of addressing workers’ legitimate concerns, the management has started terminating them,” he said. The BMS, he added, would decide on its next course of action on March 28 to ensure justice for the ousted employees.
The retrenched workers shared their grievances, stating that they were working 12-hour shifts under difficult conditions while receiving irregular salaries. They accused the company of silencing those who protested against exploitation by terminating them. They also alleged that the company had begun hiring contract labourers from unlicensed contractors, violating government labour laws. Despite submitting complaints to the labour officer, they claimed their pleas had been ignored.
Responding to the allegations, company official Mukesh Sharma denied any wrongdoing. He stated that the retrenchment was purely due to a decline in production and demand for the company’s products in the market, leaving the management with no choice but to reduce its workforce.
