The West Bengal government for Jute Sector has arranged a tripartite meeting with jute mill owners and workers’ trade unions in the state to find the solution for the ongoing clash between both sides. The latter one has threatened to go on an indefinite strike from March 1 over their demands not fulfilled. The labour department has sent a notice and invited the unions to discuss their demands on February 18.

The demand by the worker’s trade union includes wage revision and implementation of the Minimum Wages Act. All jute sector trade unions, barring the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress, will support the strike from March 1.

The jute sector provides jobs to two lakh workers in more than 60 mills in the state.

After 2011, the jute industry has merely seen any effect in wage revision. In a recent meet held on January 17, the state government, in the last tripartite meeting had decided to give an interim relief of Rs. 70. For a short time, they have also raised the workers’ wage to Rs. 327 per day until the new wage agreement being finalised.

However, the unions felt that the state government has taken unilateral decision for the interim benefit provided to them.

– Indian Apparel, Apparel Talk, Apparel and Textile News