Labour issues at LPG plant; IOC to augment gas availability

Intensification of labour problems at its LPG bottling plant at Chelari near Kozhikode has led to Indian Oil Corporation making all-out efforts to augment availability in affected areas with additional supplies from its neighbouring LPG plants. Indian oil, in a release, said it was concerned with continuing backlog in refill supply, especially in Malappuram and Thrissur districts, following frequent disruption of operations at the plant since January 2013 due to the 'unreasonable and uncooperative' approach of trade unions.

Indian Oil is resorting to additional supplies from its Kochi bottling plant to restore normalcy of refill deliveries in the affected areas, it said. Though IOC had awarded contracts to handle and load/unload cylinders at the plant in January and February 013 through public tenders, the issue of wage settlement between contractors and labourers working under them has not been amicably resolved, resulting in frequent disruptions in operating the plant.

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Several attempts at conciliation by the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central) and the District Collector of Malappuram has not helped in resolving the issue. Despite wage increase in the interim and the contractor agreeing to pay salaries and incentives as per demand, unions are not honouring the conciliation process, and are instead putting forth additional demands, the release said.

The contractor also took the matter to the High Court, which gave interim directions to the Superintendent of Police and  Assistant Labour Commissioner to ensure the plant works smoothly, despite which contract labourers have disrupted working of the Chelari plant, it said. To ease the situation, IndianOil is making all out efforts to rush additional supplies to the affected districts from its neighbouring plants to wipe out the backlog and restore normalcy at the earliest, it said.