Production hit at JK Paper Mills as workers continue protest

Rayagada: With thousands of contractual labourers resorting to indefinite dharna in front of JK Paper Mills situated in the town demanding regularisation of jobs and increase in salary since last three days, the production process in the factory has been adversely hit.

Nearly 4,000 contractual labourers of the mill on Friday began an indefinite dharna in front of the company’s main gate while pressing for fulfillment of their 14-point charter of demands including regularisation of services of those who have completed 10 years, hike in salary and allowance and 10-day annual leave for women contractual employees.

The agitating workers have been alleging that despite repeated appeals and several rounds of meeting with the company authorities for the past four months, their demands are yet to be met.

Meanwhile, a legal case in connection with the issue, which was pending in Rayagada Senior Civil Judge Court was heard today. While hearing the case, the court said that the agitators can protest peacefully without affecting the functioning of the plant.

"We welcome the Court’s orders and have decided to abide by its hearing. But we will continue to stage our demands peacefully until our pleas are addressed,” said Chandana Harindranath, JK Paper Mills Contractual Workers Union president.

“Due to absence of workers, we have stopped production at the mill. The Court has ordered that no outside people can create hurdles in the plant's process until the case is disposed of by the court,” said Sunil Nath, Senior Manager, PR, of the mill.