Closure of JCT leaves staff families in distress, workers demand justice

A meeting of stakeholders, including former employees of JCT Limited, Phagwara and Chohal, was convened to address the ongoing crisis, affecting 5,000 families due to the 'illegal' closure of the company.

Participants expressed serious concerns over the failure of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take action despite repeated pleas and official hearings.

Ashwini Thapar and Vaneet Sahni, spokespersons of the JCT Ex-Employees Union, told journalists that key issues discussed included the lack of action against company chairman Samir Thapar and full-time director Mukulika Sinha, despite non-bailable FIRs filed against them.

The illegal shutdown of JCT Limited and the subsequent inaction by relevant authorities have worsened the crisis for the affected families.

Speakers at the meeting condemned what they described as the government’s failure, highlighting that the company’s top officials continue to live lavishly while workers remain unpaid and unemployed since September 2022.

The allegations of financial misconduct were also raised during the meeting. Despite repeated complaints to the authorities, no action has been taken against those responsible. The Regional Provident Fund Office (RPFO) in Jalandhar was specifically accused of negligence, allowing fraudulent withdrawals and depriving workers of their rightful benefits.

The closure of JCT Limited contradicts the promises made by Mann and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who have pledged to attract industries and create employment opportunities in the state. Instead, thousands of workers and their families remain in distress, with the illegal sale of company assets and stocks further compounding their woes.

A crucial meeting on February 14 at the Labour Commissioner’s office in Mohali, chaired by the Labour Secretary and attended by the Zonal PF Commissioner, Commissioner RPFO, Jalandhar, and the District Commissioners of Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur, highlighted the lack of accountability. The company’s director attended the meeting but was allowed to leave without any legal action. This incident has raised concerns over the state government’s commitment to ensuring justice for the affected workers.

The affected workers and their families are now questioning why the government and the AAP leadership have failed to take action against the company’s top officials. After more than three years of hardships, they remain deprived of their rightful dues, with no decisive intervention from the police, district administrations, or labour authorities.

Union leaders have urged the state government and all authorities to take immediate action to ensure justice for the affected employees and their families. They have called for the immediate release of pending wages and statutory dues and demanded strict action against those responsible for the company’s fraudulent activities.

The protest meeting was attended by several former JCT employees, including Khushilal Yadav, Ratan Prasad, Shiv Narain, Satinder, Jai Ram, Vipin Kumar, Rajeev, Pavan, William, Ravi Sidhu, Nawal Kishore, Umesh Giri, Dev Nath, Bacchu Singh, and many others. The workers reiterated their resolve to continue their struggle until justice is served.