Saorsa
28th July 2010, 08:28
Leading soap factory may shut down
Added At: 2010-07-27 11:42 PM Last Updated At: 2010-07-28 11:42 PM
Diwakar Bhandari
PATHALAIYA: Aarti Soap & Chemical Industries Pvt Ltd, one of the leading soap and Detergent Manufacturers since its inception in 1991, is on the verge of closure, as it has been two months since it halted production due to protest from workers affiliated with the Unified CPN-Maoist.
ASCI produces high quality toilet soaps, laundry soaps, detergent powder and cakes. The management said it would be compelled to shut the industry permanently if the government did not intervene to provide appropriate environment for the smooth operation of industry at the earliest. The industry has stopped production since May 19 after 28 workers resorted to protest putting forth two demands.
The All Nepal Industrial Workers’ Union, affiliated with UCPN-Maoist, has brought production of the industry to a halt demanding absent days’ salary and opportunity to return to work. However, the management has stated that it has cancelled the attendance of the workers as they had been absent for a long time. The union claims that management has deprived workers of their livelihood, violating the prevailing Labour Act.
DK Rai, executive manager, ASCI, said, “We had changed the shift of the workers. But, unfortunately, the workers stopped coming for work.” Rai said though ASCI had often notified the workers to return to work, the agitating labourers said they would not do so until they were provided with absent days’ salary.
Though ASCI had produced 4,277 metric tonnes of soaps and detergent in the fiscal year 2008-09, it could produce only 516 metric tonnes in 2009-10 due to workers’ obstruction. Indramani Gautam, chairman, All Nepal Industrial Workers’ Union of ASCI, said they would not return to work and let ASCI run until the management met their two-point demand.
The management stated that ASCI was not in a position to concede to the demands of the workers, as it has been bearing daily losses. Management is committed to following ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
According to administrative officer Rajesh Pandey, ASCI has been losing nearly one million rupees a month. “We’ll be left with no option but to close the factory if our concerns were not addressed at the earliest,” he added.
The management and agitating workers held talks in presence of representatives of FNCCI and Labour Department to resolve the issue but they couldn’t find a solution. ASCI also made a request to Labour Department seeking latter’s permission to slash the number of labourers by 75 per cent. “The management was compelled to knock the door of labour department after workers refused to rejoin their duty despite several requests from the management,” Rai said.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Leading+soap+factory+may+shu t+down&NewsID=251360
Added At: 2010-07-27 11:42 PM Last Updated At: 2010-07-28 11:42 PM
Diwakar Bhandari
PATHALAIYA: Aarti Soap & Chemical Industries Pvt Ltd, one of the leading soap and Detergent Manufacturers since its inception in 1991, is on the verge of closure, as it has been two months since it halted production due to protest from workers affiliated with the Unified CPN-Maoist.
ASCI produces high quality toilet soaps, laundry soaps, detergent powder and cakes. The management said it would be compelled to shut the industry permanently if the government did not intervene to provide appropriate environment for the smooth operation of industry at the earliest. The industry has stopped production since May 19 after 28 workers resorted to protest putting forth two demands.
The All Nepal Industrial Workers’ Union, affiliated with UCPN-Maoist, has brought production of the industry to a halt demanding absent days’ salary and opportunity to return to work. However, the management has stated that it has cancelled the attendance of the workers as they had been absent for a long time. The union claims that management has deprived workers of their livelihood, violating the prevailing Labour Act.
DK Rai, executive manager, ASCI, said, “We had changed the shift of the workers. But, unfortunately, the workers stopped coming for work.” Rai said though ASCI had often notified the workers to return to work, the agitating labourers said they would not do so until they were provided with absent days’ salary.
Though ASCI had produced 4,277 metric tonnes of soaps and detergent in the fiscal year 2008-09, it could produce only 516 metric tonnes in 2009-10 due to workers’ obstruction. Indramani Gautam, chairman, All Nepal Industrial Workers’ Union of ASCI, said they would not return to work and let ASCI run until the management met their two-point demand.
The management stated that ASCI was not in a position to concede to the demands of the workers, as it has been bearing daily losses. Management is committed to following ‘no work, no pay’ policy.
According to administrative officer Rajesh Pandey, ASCI has been losing nearly one million rupees a month. “We’ll be left with no option but to close the factory if our concerns were not addressed at the earliest,” he added.
The management and agitating workers held talks in presence of representatives of FNCCI and Labour Department to resolve the issue but they couldn’t find a solution. ASCI also made a request to Labour Department seeking latter’s permission to slash the number of labourers by 75 per cent. “The management was compelled to knock the door of labour department after workers refused to rejoin their duty despite several requests from the management,” Rai said.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Leading+soap+factory+may+shu t+down&NewsID=251360