Management to consider permanent recruitment of causal workers

Haldia, Apr 7 (UNI) The Haldia Petrochemicals Limited(HPL) management today said it would positively consider the demands of the CITU-led HPL Employees Union of recruiting 183 associate workers on a permanent basis.

Denying media reports that the management had decided to recruit associate workers on a full-time basis within this year, HPL Employees Union vice-president Ashok Patnaik said the former had only assured them of considering the matter positively and looking for scope to employ at least a few within this year-end.

A meeting was held today between CITU and HPL Employees Union and senior officilas of HPL, including Vice-President Anjan Basu, Planning Head S R Ghosh and Haldia unit General Manager S S Moitra.

MLA Nittananda Bera was present as a representative of CITU.

The management's representatives said complying with the union's demand for recruiting all of the 183 associate workers, whose nature of work is casual, would not be possible. ''But, some of them may be employed by this year-end if the situation so permits,'' said an HPL official.

The Union said the management's response was positive but they should inform the union regarding the procedure of recruitment and within the next seven days should sit with Union president Lakshman Seth(MP) for a meeting to arrive at an amicable solution.

Meanwhile, the Union's representatives said their movement will not be withdrawn.

Mr Patnaik said they have also made another demand that the management should train family members of those whose property was acquired for the purpose of constructing the Petrochemical factory here and induct them once they become fit to be employed.

UNI XC LL PL MSJ BD1617