File pictures of Powmex Steel plant and (above) DGM Radhesyam Ray’s vehicle set ablaze by workers in Titlagarh

Balangir, June 9: After waiting for more than three months, the Powmex Steel division of Graphite India Limited near Titlagarh reopened today, much to the relief of the workers of the factory.

The factory management had declared ‘lockout’ after its deputy general manager Radheshyam Ray was burnt to death by agitating workers on March 3.

State’s labour minister, local MLAs, representatives of workers’ unions and labour department officials had decided to reopen the factory had several rounds of talks with the company’s management and labourers since then. Factory sources said 130 permanent workers and 250 contractual workers joined duties when the factory reopened this morning.

Thanking the negotiators, the managing director of Powmex Steel, J.D. Kuruvilla, said: “At least 130 permanent workers and 250 contractual workers joined duty when the factory reopened today. I hope the workers and the management will work together.”

Minister of labour and minor irrigation Pushpendra Singhdeo, who played a key role in the revival of the factory, announced that the factory authorities had accepted several demands of the workers.

“The factory authorities have committed to fulfil a number of demands of the workers. They have decided to raise the workers’ wages. The workers will get their revised remuneration immediately. They will also be entitled to medical benefits,” the minister said. The murder of the deputy general manager last March was an offshoot of labour unrest as the workers had been agitating demanding regularisation of contractual workers, wage hike, and promotion of regular workers.

Balangir MP Kalikesh Singhdeo said the chief minister and the labour minister were very concerned after the unfortunate incident and had tried hard to reopen the factory.

“I attribute opening of the factory to the two ministers. It is very important that the factory runs smoothly as it is the only factory of its kind in this district. Balangir does not have any industry and I am trying to set up two more industries for which I need cooperation of all,” the MP said.

Workers who were rendered jobless after ‘lockout’ of the unit are happy to return to their work again. President of Powmex labour union Abhimanyu Sahu described reopening of the factory as a positive move by the company’s management.

“I am happy that the company authorities have decided to reopen the factory. Life was miserable for workers who were without work for the last three months,” Sahu said.