Concern over retrenchment of contract workers at SAIL plant

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI-M) said around 3,000 contractual workers at the Steel Authority of India plant in Durgapur were evicted and replaced by a set of workers on low wages.

"Skilled workers were evicted under a nefarious nexus of Durgapur Steel Plant management, contractors...I am afraid that it will be difficult to keep the plant running (under such circumstances),...Contract workers are used a cannon fodder," he said.

He said 3,000 contract workers were working with the plant for five to ten years and were getting wages under a tripartite agreement.

Demanding steps to end forceful eviction of workers, he said it was "horrifying" and paradoxical that management was presenting the entire situation as inter-union rivalry.

Sen lamented that the workers had approached Steel Minister, SAIL Chairman, Durgapur Steel Plant management, Labour Department officials and Chief Minister but there was no end to their sufferings.

"I want that such a situation be stopped and forceful eviction of contractual workers must end," he said.