Labour office loses file & 55 workers, their jobs

Chandrapur: A total of 55 workers of Rajuri Steels and Alloy Ltd located in Mul MIDC have lost their job as the assistant labour commissioner’s office here has lost the file related to their complaint, investigation report and the compliance directed by investigation officer in the case. The aggrieved workers have charged that the file has been intentionally removed and have alleged this to be an insider’s job.The labour office has not filed an FIR about the missing file, sources said.
Worker Sunil Jumanke said that 55 workers of Rajuri Steels had filed complaint with the then assistant labour commissioner Prakash Babhulkar and government labour officer Vishaka Bankar. The two officers had carried out spot inspection in the plant and found that complaints filed by workers were genuine and that they were denied of facilities of overtime pay, identity card, attendance register, payslip, medial facility, provident fund, safety etc.
The two officers had submitted their report and listed all these shortcomings in it. The assistant labour commissioner had given time to the company to rectify the shortcomings. However, the dialogue between company and workers failed and the matter again went before the same officers, Jumanke said, while interacting with reporters.
He informed that the 55 workers had filed a proposal under section 2 (A) of Industrial Dispute Act for illegal dismissal of the workers against the company. Several hearings were held before labour officer Sandya Pendor, but to no avail. Later labour department suggested the workers that the company falls under Maharashtra Industrial Relation Act and told them file their proposal with labour court. However when labourers sought case details like their case like complaints, investigation report, etc, the labour office informed the workers that their file was missing.
The workers charged the labour officer of deceiving them in the name of hearing for 11 months in connivance with company management. Labourers said that they had staged a 35-day agitation before district collector to seek justice, but it bore no fruits.