Over 2,000 Vedanta Balco labourers court arrest in protest

Over 2,000 contractual labourers of aluminium manufacturer Vedanta Balco courted arrest today to press their demands including Employees' Provident Fund and equal work for equal pay in Chhattisgarh's Korba district.
A large number of Vedanta Balco labourers gathered at Ambedkar Stadium to court mass arrest, after which more than 2,000 of them were held, Korba Additional Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh said.
However, they were released on a bail bond later, he said.
When contacted, Vedanta Balco Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Nayar said the issue would be sorted out soon with co-operation from the district administration and the police.

The management would never take steps against the welfare of its labourers and intends to work in their interest, he said.
He alleged some people with vested interests had provoked the labourers to demonstrate.