CUNCOLIM: Twenty-two contract labourers of Nicomet Industries protested in front of the factory at Cuncolim Industrial Estate on Tuesday demanding their two-month wages. Some even threatened self-immolation when factory officials and labour contractor refused to listen to their grievances.
The agitating labourers hail from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar. According to the labourers, they were hired by labour contractor Hiralal Yadav through sub-contractor Raju Mandal to work for Nicomet Industries. The labourers said that they have not been paid their wages since the last two months by Raju Mandal.
Nicomet Industries officials say that they had paid the wages to labour contractor Hiralal Yadav, who in turn said that he paid the wages to Mandal on daily basis. Currently, Raju Mandal is reportedly absconding.
Meanwhile, Nicomat officials informed the Cuncolim police about the agitating workers who rushed to the spot and directed the labour contractor to pay for the ration of the agitating workers till the issue is settled.
Meanwhile, Cuncolim councillor Succorina Coutinho told media persons that this was not first time the labourers are cheated by the units operating out the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
“Every industry and labour contractor is exploiting the unorganised non-Goan workers,” Coutinho said.
There are allegations from the general public that the labour department, law enforcement agencies and Industrial Estate officers are hand in glove in the exploitation of labourers.
