CITU calls off strike at Haldia Petrochem : Project Supermax back on track

25-Nov-09

Haldia Petrochemicals’ management has agreed to a 146% wage revision in a bid to deal with the indefinite strike by temporary workers. CITU has called off its strike at Haldia Petrochemicals (HPL) on inking of an agreement between the West Bengal government, the union, the contractors and the company. The 146% wage revision will be paid over the three-year term of the agreement. Contract workers’ wages will go up by 104% in the first year, another 21% in the second year and 20% in the third year. Under the pact, the workers would be categorised into four --unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled. The money HPL spends on the contract workers’ wages will go up to Rs 21 crore a year from Rs 11 crore. The bill will creep up to Rs 24 crore in the second year and Rs 27 crore in the third. The HPL wage pact will be valid up to June 2012. HPL has already lost about Rs 40 crore because of the strike-enforced delay in the 75 day planned expansion of naphtha cracking facility. Several business houses have been closely watching the developments at HPL for fears that the outcome of the strike and the wage talks could have an impact across the state.