Demanding their pending wages and showing eagerness to work again, hundreds of workers of Orient Craft, Noida had to allegedly face lathi charge by police, in addition to FIR being filed against them.
This is the second time in last 2 months that workers of the company have protested, in front of the factory in Sector 63, over the same demands.
The factory management, meanwhile, has blamed the workers for turning violent.
The company also claimed that it is ready to pay the workers their dues, but refused to resume work at the unit due to lack of orders.
As per media reports, two FIRs have been lodged against the workers on the complaint of the company. Notably, around 275 workers gathered outside the factory and demanded their pending wage.
According to workers, few women workers also had to face lathi charge. Later, the workers also submitted their complaint to Government officials.
Last time also when the workers protested (18 May), the situation had become so tensed that police force had to be called to control the angry workers. The company had then posted a notice outside the factory informing, “Management will pay overtime by 22 May. We will try our best to open this unit (D-241, Sector 63) around 1 July as there are no orders…”
But now, there is again a notice that the factory will resume work in September.
As per leading English daily, Vijay Govind Saxena, DGM of the company, alleged the workers had resorted to violence and attacked him when he tried to mediate between workers and the management.
“We are ready to pay them as per legal norms but running a factory is dependent on the third party too. We are unsure when we can we restart operations,” he added.
The police have a video recording of the incident and are trying to identify the workers who resorted to violence.
Orient Craft has more than 20 apparel factories across North India and Ranchi.
Also Read: Angry Orient Craft workers protest over delay in payment of March overtime
