Jute crisis causes one lakh job losses in West Bengal

The raw jute crisis in West Bengal is deepening, having left about one lakh workers jobless already.

“Until now 12 jute mills have closed down due to which almost one lakh workers are jobless in the state,” a joint representation by mills to state Labour Minister Malay Ghatak said.

The joint representation letter also said already huge number of mills have cut down production and worker surplus is increasing in each mill.

The purpose of saving the workers and the farmers through Jute Packaging Material (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987 (JPM Act, 1987) has gone wayward.

The Ministry of Textiles has diluted the mandatory jute packaging material in wake of lower supply by the jute mills owing to raw jute shortage.