Tension prevailed at the dairy plant of OMFED at Ankushpur on the outskirts of Brahmapur city on Thursday following a scuffle between agitating contract labourers of the plant and the police. The scuffle ensued after policemen allegedly tried to force the agitating labourers, who were on a dharna inside the plant premises, to desist from the wildcat strike and join work.
Irate agitators ransacked the plant’s office by breaking furnitures and computers and even manhandled the plant’s manager, who claimed to have been injured in the attack by the agitators. The contract labourers are on a strike since Wednesday midnight crippling milk processing and packaging resulting in stoppage of milk supply to Brahmapur city. At least 52 contract labourers of the plant are on cease-work demanding regularisation of their jobs.
“We have been working in this organisation for the last 18 years but yet to get our PF claims that are being deducted from our wages. Deductions have been made for ESI, but we are not getting our claims. Apart from that, we are getting a meager monthly wage of Rs3,500. How are we going to maintain feed our families with such low wages,” asked a striking worker.
Plant manager Piysh Mishra said the plant have a total strength of 96 employees out of whom 52 are contract labourers who are demanding permanent employee status.Brahmapur Sadar SDPO Harihar Pani along with his team rushed to spot and managed to pacify the agitation.