Jamshedpur Tusu : Industries work out alternative mechanism to check labour crisis 

Jamshedpur, Jan 14: Taking lessons from the last few years’ experience of the labour crisis during the popular Tusu and Makar Sankranti festival, the 1200 odd industries in the Adityapur industrial area have worked out a plan to confront the impending problem.

In the light of nearly 70 per cent of the workers likely to be on leave for 10 days tentatively from January 13 most of the labour intensive manufacturing firms in Asia’s leading industrial hub have decided to make up the potential loss through additional production beforehand.

In addition to this several of the enterprises have planned to offer fiscal incentives to the labourers to hold them back on job during the upcoming crucial 10 days.

“Given the fact that labour shortage is going to hit the industries during the Tusu festival several of the firms have decided on alternative mechanisms to make up the potential loss,” said an official of Adityapur Small Industries Association (ASIA).

According to industry insiders, about 40,000 workers go on leave enmasse for about 10 days to their native place for celebrating the festival owing to which the industry at large incur production loss roughly to the tune of over Rs 25 crore.

Saurabh Kedia, an industrialist who owns an enterprise in the industrial area said even though most of the workers refuse fiscal incentives also but entrepreneurs are hopeful they would convince the workers to stay back on duty through these measures.

In the backdrop of the fact that majority of the firms particularly, the ancillary units of the global auto major Tata Motors, are hands full with work orders the requirement of the workers 24×7 becomes all the more important for the industries.

“The irony is that we cannot employ temporary workers for the time being in place of our regular workers as it would lead to unrest among the workers,” said  senior functionary, Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

 The companies operating in the Adityapur Industrial Area Development Authority’s jurisdiction employ workers largely from the fringe areas of the Seraikela district so therefore during the festival season, especially during the Tusu festival, majority of the workers go home to be with their families and enjoy the celebration.