Laxmi Ratan Shukla's efforts bear fruit as factory reopens after 6 days

Kolkata: An iron tools and machine manufacturing factory at Ghusuri in Howrah reopened on the day of Viswakarma Puja on Sunday.

Reopening of the factory has brought back smiles on the faces of around 300 employees and they all appreciated the initiatives of Laxmi Ratan Shukla, the minister of state for Youth Services and Sports department and local MLA from North Howrah Assembly constituency.

The Universal Machines Private Limited had closed six days ago following a difference in opinion between the authorities and the employees.

The employees had been agitating for the past nine months demanding renewal of their contracts and hike in their salary. Their requests has been falling on deaf ears.

So the employees had decided to go on a strike from Monday. They didn't join the work and started agitating in front of the factory on Girish Ghosh Road. They decided to continue with their strike till their demands were not met. Finally, Shukla intervened and had talks with both the employees' representatives and the factory authorities.

The factory authorities agreed to renew the contracts of the employees and at the same time their salary has also been revised.

Their contract has been renewed for the next four years and each of their salary has increased by Rs 926 per month. The employees had also demanded bonus ahead of Durga Puja. But earlier, they did not get any reply from the factory authorities. Now the employees will get the bonus as well.

Employees of the factory lauded the role played by Shukla. The said that it would not have been possible without the minister. According to the employees, there could be no better gift for them in this Durga Puja than the reopening of the factory on the day of Viswakarma Puja and that's too after all their demands are met.