Employees of the Mawmluh Cherra Cements Limited (MCCL) today decided to resort to lawful measures with regards to the present situation after the State government decided to close down the cement plant.
The employees under the banner of Mawmluh Cherra Cements Employees Union (MCCEU) today held a general meeting at the union’s office at Mawmluh, Sohra to discuss the course of action in view of the government decision.
“Our course of action can be through the judiciary or democratic means. However, we have not decided anything final on the matter,” Pynskhem Lyngdoh, general secretary of the MCCEU said.
Lyngdoh also said that till date the union is still firm on the demand for normal salary and clearance of pending dues till the cement plant resumes normal operation, speedy and normal running of the plant with upgradation and Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)/golden handshake scheme, despite the MCCL stopping its operations.
MCCEU president Shanlang Diengdoh said that the union as per its representation to the government on May 23, 2023 on the issue of VRS or golden handshake scheme, wanted the scheme to be implemented, that it should be minimum ten years or above, that the scheme should be accommodating even to employees whose service period is very short by introducing special scheme for them, or if they are not willing to opt for the scheme they should be transferred to other government department.
Thirdly, according to the union the scheme offer, after tabulation from the management or government can be cancelled by employees if the financial offer is not up to the mark. It also said that the scheme introduced should be in a one-time payment mode and all dues have to be cleared before the cut off date.
Diengdoh also said that the plant should be upgraded so that it can give a long term service once again. He urged all not to criticise the members of the MCCEU since they are under pressure.
He said that the employees cannot be blamed for the state of the cement factory that it is in at present.
“We are its assets. At present we are fighting how to feed ourselves. We have responsibilities to take in our own families,” Diengdoh said.
The MCCEU president also urged the State government to help in restarting the factory through whatever means so that it can generate employment.
“If the plant restarts its operation it will help the government in generating employment,” Diengdoh said.
On the recent statement of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma that the government have more or less come to a conclusion and a decision along with the stakeholders and employees where it will be going for a VRS model and there will be a kind of a golden handshake with the permanent employees of the MCCL, Diengdoh said that although they have sent a representation with terms and conditions on the matter, but till date there has been no official communication from the government’s side.
