Union accuses mill owners of fraud, submits memo to SP

Phagwara, July 8

A delegation from Jagatjit Textile Mill Trade Union Congress today met SP Phagwara Rupinder Kaur Bhatti in support of their long-pending demands.

The union members accused the JCT mill owners of fraud and demanded the registration of an FIR. Speaking to journalists after submitting a memorandum to the police, union leader Sunil Pandey and others alleged that due to the negligence of the owners, the mill was on the verge of closure due to heavy debt.

They said though the employees’ EPF contributions were being deducted, these were not being deposited, which amounted to fraud. Those who left their jobs during Covid due to departmental closures and retirees had not been paid gratuity, overtime, bonuses, or PF by the mill management, they claimed. This had caused severe financial hardship for the affected workers, making it difficult for them to manage household expenses, seek medical treatment, and enrol their children in new academic sessions.

The mill management had also not deposited ESI contributions for the past year, resulting in the suspension of benefits. Workers were also unable to withdraw their savings from the cooperative society within the mill.

Crores of rupees in provident fund contributions were pending, they said. Raj Narayan Yadav, a member of the Regional Provident Fund Committee, Punjab, had lodged a written complaint with the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Jalandhar, in December. Despite numerous letters from the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner’s office, the mill management had yet to deposit the funds.

The copies of the memorandum have also been sent to the Punjab Governor; Chief Minister; Cabinet Minister for Labour; state Labour Secretary; Labour Commissioner, Mohali; Assistant Central Provident Fund Commissioner, Chandigarh; and Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Jalandhar.