Jute workers to protest

the 25,000 workers of national jute manufacturers corporation ltd will vehemently oppose any move to denationalise njmc as has been indicated by the centre. they will stage a dharna near parliament during the forthcoming winter session against the move. this was announced at a convention organised by the bengal chatkal mazdoor union recently. the bcmu held the government responsible for the deteriorating condition and low productivity of the corporation.the public-sector njmc has five units in west bengal and one in bihar. citu leader bimal dey said that from over 400 tonnes of finished products daily, the productivity has come down to 200 tonnes due to scarcity in the supply of raw jute by the government. he said that the government had indicated that it would stop the budgetary support for the wages, salary and statutory dues in njmc from next year and planned to refer it to the bifr. the bcmu members said that jute being a labour-intensive industry, the lives of the 25,000 workers would be at stake if the government stopped their salaries after december. the lives of the numerous jute growers would be endangered, too.