Worker stir hits Jindal Stainless Jajpur unit

Production at the Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL) plant located in Kalinga Nagar industrial complex, the emerging steel hub in Orissa's Jajpur district, was affected on Thursday following an agitation by a group of labourers.

Sources said, nearly a hundred labourers of raw material handling system (RMHS) of the plant resorted to cease-work and sat on dharna inside the steel plant complex demanding permanent job and salary hike.

"We all do the work of permanent workers. But why should we be outsourced and termed as contact labourers and get only Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 per month," Ganesh Chandra Das, leader of the agitating workers, asked.

"We demand the company should treat us as permanent workers and increase our salary at least Rs 1000 per month," demanded B N Mohanty, another worker.

The company authorities, however, said discussions are on with the agitating labourers.

"We are looking into their demands and hope some possible solutions will come out within a day or two," said S K Mohapatra, assistant general manager of Jindal Stainless Limited though he didn't admit that the production was halted in the steel plant following the labourers agitation.

One platoon of armed police force was deployed to avoid any untoward incident. Kalinga Nager police station inspector-in-charge, S.K.Mohapatra said, "The labourers are agitating in a peaceful manner and they are demanding salary hike and status."

Jajpur district unit Indian National Trade Union Congress president, Bidyadhar Mohanty described the agitation by the labourers as genuine.

"The labourers engaged in the RMHS unit of the Jindal plant at Kalinga Nager are doing the job of permanent workers. But they are being treated as outsourced work force. Their demands are legal and genuine. Their salary must be hiked and they should be treated as permanent workers", Mohanty said.

Last month, a group of contractual labouers had staged agitation demanding permanent job in the same steel plant.