Dendua heated up again over the demand for fair wages: Labor leader warns of indefinite road blockade with families if no solution is found
The Asansol Alloy factory premises in the industrial area of Dendua, Asansol, once again heated up over demands for the minimum wages set by the West Bengal Government and strict safety rules at the workplace. For the past three days, factory workers have been continuously agitating and demonstrating for their fair dues, improvement of the work environment, and legal protection. The workers allege that the factory authorities are issuing various threats to suppress their completely peaceful and democratic movement through intimidation.
Expressing anger, an agitating female worker stated that while the state government has fixed the daily wage at 386 rupees, female workers are facing extreme exploitation. They are being paid a daily wage of only 275 rupees. Whenever they protest against this discrimination and low wages, the factory authorities threaten to retrench them from work.
The situation has been further complicated by the factory owners. Another worker stated that with the intention of depriving local deprived workers of their rightful rights, the factory management is bringing in new people from outside at higher wages to forcefully continue production. Although work is being run by these outsider locals are not being given their fair rights.
The safety of the workers is also completely ignored here. There is no minimum safety arrangement inside the factory. If a worker is seriously injured in an accident, let alone bearing the full cost of treatment, they are paid only half wages. Against this inhumane system, whenever the demand for workplace security is raised, a clear and arrogant response comes from the authorities— 'Work if you want, otherwise leave.' Anger is brewing across the area over this playing with the lives of workers.
Not only worker exploitation, but serious allegations of environmental destruction have also been raised against this factory. Local residents have become fed up with the toxic smoke and chemical waste freely emitted from the factory. It is alleged that by not operating the prescribed pollution control devices regularly and by managing some dishonest and corrupt leaders to save that cost money, the factory is being run by thumbing its nose at all environmental laws, which is pushing the health of local people into serious risk.
Expressing strong discontent in view of this entire situation, labor leader Amar Nath Mahato alleged that the police and administration, responsible for the lives, livelihoods, and security of ordinary people, are completely working on behalf of the management instead of standing by or helping the workers in this deep crisis. Yesterday, the workers submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate (DM) detailing all these irregularities, deprivation, and exploitation.
From the administration's side, a tripartite joint resolution meeting has been assured next Thursday involving the district administration, factory authorities, and worker representatives. However, the labor leadership has clearly stated that if no specific solution is reached regarding the workers' fair wages, pending attendance, and security in next Thursday's meeting, the workers will be forced to take to a larger and indefinite road blockade along with their families, completely paralyzing the Dendua region.
