Standoff between HUL Nabha and workmen leads to shutdown of production

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, June 2

The Nabha factory of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has shut its production after standoff with the workmen over the issue of salary — during the lockdown.

The Nabha HUL — which produces essential health food products, Horlicks and Boost — has not been able to produce the products for over a week now.

The workmen came at loggerheads with the company after the latter, reportedly, failed to provide full salary to the over 1,700 employees, including contractual staff, during lockdown.

The workers union at the factory, Milkfood Worker Union, alleged that the company did not give its employees salary during the lockdown.

Balbir Singh, general secretary, Milkfood Worker Union, said that the company told them to stop coming to work as they were facing huge losses.

He said, “The company has put up a notice at the entry gate asking employees to stop coming as the company is closed.”

He said they had given 72-hour ultimatum to the company, after submitting a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner and Labour Department.

Balbir added, “At one hand, the mutational companies are giving extra financial help while here the company has not even give their due salaries to its employees.”

Meanwhile, Nabha HUL unit in an official statement, said, “At a time when there is an increased need to ensure supply of essential goods to consumers, workers are not cooperating. As this factory being public utility service unit, it is bound to operate — to help the society with essential items in the current challenging times.”

The company claimed that the Nabha factory has been suffering production losses for well over a week now because majority of the workmen are not showing up for work. As a result, the factory could fulfil market demand only partially.