In a significant development, the management of Rastriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) has decided to reinstate the 4,200 contract workers who were terminated on September 27, 2024. The reinstatement of these workers will be effective from September 29, following their two-day protest (dharna) outside the RINL Executive Director’s office.
The workers, who were concerned about their sudden dismissal, met with Regional Labour Commissioner K.J. Mohanty, who played a pivotal role in addressing the issue and ensuring the reinstatement. The workers had expressed their grievances to Mohanty, stating that their gate passes had been abruptly cancelled, leaving them without jobs.
In response to their concerns, the RINL management has agreed to reinstate all contract workers and issue them new gate passes. However, union representatives voiced their displeasure at the issuance of temporary gate passes valid for only one month. They have urged the RINL management to restore the original passes, warning that they might consider industrial action if the demand is not met.
On its part, the RINL management clarified that around 3,700 contract worker passes had been cancelled and would be restored in the online pass system as soon as possible. The management also assured that the biometric database of contract workers would be reactivated to ensure smooth operations.
While reinstating the contract workers, RINL emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and harmony to ensure uninterrupted plant production. They advised the unions and workers to avoid any industrial action that might hinder the plant’s productivity.
The reinstatement of these contract workers comes as a relief to thousands of families dependent on these jobs and highlights the effective intervention of the regional labour authorities.
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