Bihar migrant labourers get free mobile phones, bicycles

Ludhiana(Punjab), Nov 27: The small and big manufacturers in Punjab are facing labour shortage, so employees are providing free mobile phones and bicycles to the labourers.

The free mobile phones and bicycles are given to retain Bihar migrant labourers. Around 5000 small and big manufacturers of bicycles in Ludhiana are facing threat of closure. There are almost 30 percent labour shortage, claimed by traders. Hero, Avon and Rolex are some of the leading manufacturers of bicycle.

The labour crisis has also felt on the farm sector as well as on textile manufacturing in the district.

"The labourers are also given mobile recharge coupons of Rs 50 to Rs 200 denominations to talk to their families," said D S Chawla, former president of United Cycle and Parts Manufacturing Association.

P D Sharma, president of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Punjab), said that each labourers will either get a free bicycle or for paltry sum to these labourers. So that they can come to their work place by bicycles.

According to the recent survey, the migrant labourers from Bihar has declined by over 26 per cent.

OneIndia News