NLC management offers bonus to contract workers

Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, Apr 10 (UNI) In a bid to pacify peace with the agitating 13,000-odd contract workers, the management of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) today announced a bonus package for them.

NLC Director P Babu Rao told newspersons here that the Rs nine crore bonus package for the years 2005-06 and 2006-07 would be disbursed by June 15. The payment would be taken up after a month, he added.

Seeking the cooperation of the contract workers in restoring peace in the public sector organisation, he said in order to avoid such problems in future, the NLC had decided to stipulate a new condition that contractors should compulsorily pay a bonus of 8.33 per cent and could include the amount in the tender they quote.

Mr Rao claimed that the contract workers' strike had no impact on power production and the company did not suffer any loss. About 90 per cent of the contract workers had returned to work, he added.

Cuddalore Collector Rajendra Ratnoo, who was also present, asked the contract workers to ensure that there was no law and order problem. He wanted peace to prevail in the region.

He said the NLC management's decision to announce bonus should be made known to the contract workers.

The NLC contract workers had been agitating since March 29, demanding implementation of their 13-point charter of demands, including regularisation of services.

UNI XR GD SW SSC1450