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The Gujarat government has finally intervened and termed the Nirma group's closure of Saurashtra Chemicals plant as illegal and in clear violation of labour laws.
The state government has asked the Nirma management to come up with some solution by Wednesday.
The Nirma management has sought time till 11 am on Tuesday to discuss the matter with its top management on the issue of relieving 2,300 workers and closure of the plant.
V K Babbar, principal secretary, labour and employment of the state government told Business Standard that the company has sought time till 11 am on Tuesday to consult its top management and come up with some solution.
"Nirma's action amounts to unfair practices," said a senior official of the state labour department.
The Nirma group had relieved some 2,300-odd employees from its Saurashtra Chemicals plant near Porbandar while taking over the management of the company from the S K Birla group.
The S K Birla-owned Porbandar plant of Saurashtra Chemicals was sold to the Nirma Group on June 27, 2005. The new management took charge on February 18.
When contacted by Business Standard, C J Bhatt, executive director of Saurashtra Chemicals, refused to comment on their next step. "Currently, there is no development and we can not say anything about future steps," said Bhatt.
Rajendra Gokani, leader of the workers' union of Saurashtra Chemicals said the workers were not being allowed to meet mediapersons and state ministers.
"We have been locked in the company premises and the security personnel are not allowing us to go out and meet others. The top-level management is also not ready to talk to us on the second day running," said Gokani.
He also said that Arjun Modhwadia, opposition leader in the assembly (Congress), was supposed to visit the company and meet us but he has gone to Delhi for an urgent meet. "We are expecting Modhwadia to visit the company on Tuesday," said Gokani.
The plant produces 900 MT of chemical such as soda ash, calcium bi-carb and bromine per day.
