No deadline, but Dunlop says lay-off notice to be withdrawn

Dunlop India, which had issued a lay-off notice on Saturday to about 900 workers of its Sahagunj tyre factory, on Monday made a U-turn. The company said the notice will be withdrawn as soon as production begins at their plant in Hooghly, a two-hour journey from here.

“Our new production plan for Sahagunj plant is on its way and the lay-off notice will be withdrawn soon,” Pawan Kumar Ruia, chairman of the Ruia Group, which owns Dunlop, said over the phone from Bangkok. He, however, did not give any time frame for withdrawing the notice and starting production.

The notice was put up on the company gate on Saturday, which asked the workers to report every day at the work. It said they would be given half of their salary and dearness allowances.

The group’s spokesperson said, “We will hold talks with the workers and trade unions there once we get back to India.”

The company's key officials are in Bangkok to attend an annual conference. They are supposed to return by April 6.

A meeting was also held at the Hooghly district magistrate's office in which representative from workers, trade union leaders and district labour commissioner participated. There was no representative from the Dunlop management.

“The meeting concluded that the move by Dunlop management was illegal,” local CPM leader and former MP Rupchand Pal said.