Kolkata, Sep 9 (PTI) West Bengal Labour Minister Arjun Singh on Wednesday directed authorities of the jute mills to pay bonus to workers by the end of September, ahead of Durga Puja, and assured trade unions that issues relating to wages and a new industry-wide agreement would be taken up after the festival.
The decision was taken on Wednesday at a meeting convened by the Labour Department with representatives of 23 central and state-level jute trade unions, the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA), non-IJMA mills and senior officials, sources said.
The minister asked all jute mills to ensure timely payment of bonus as per previous practice and within the framework of existing law, according to a statement issued after the meeting.
Singh also appealed
to trade unions to cooperate in keeping the mills operational and assured them that workers’ issues, including bonus for future years, a new industry-wide agreement and other pending matters, would be discussed in detail after the Puja holidays.
In a significant move, he said the Ministry of Textiles has agreed to associate West Bengal Labour Department officials in jute-related matters handled by the Jute Commissioner’s Office (JCO), Jute Corporation of India (JCI), National Jute Board and other central agencies.
“Decisions concerning the jute sector will be taken in consultation with the Government of West Bengal,” sources who attended the meeting said.
The minister also said he would lead a state delegation to the Union Ministry of Textiles to raise issues confronting jute farmers, workers, mills and trade unions.
A small working group comprising representatives of all stakeholders would also be constituted to work towards the overall revival of the jute sector, he said.
Singh said his objective was to ensure that every jute mill in the state operated at full capacity.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the JCO and JCI, besides the Labour Commissioner, West Bengal, IJMA and the jute trade unions. PTI BSM NN
