Contractor Firm RK Enterprises Accused of Denying Minimum Wage, Medical Aid to 950 Workers
Key Points:
- Around 950 workers at Surda Mines accuse RK Enterprises of flouting labour laws
- Workers elect Bagrai Mardi to lead agitation after key meeting
- Threat of large-scale protest if demands remain unmet
GHATSHILA — Around 950 workers employed at the Surda Mines near Ghatshila have accused their contractor company of denying them basic labour rights, including minimum wages and accident compensation.
The mine, operated by Hindustan Copper Limited, has engaged R.K. Enterprises Resource Private Limited as its contractor firm. The workers allege the firm is violating multiple labour laws.
The grievances include denial of minimum wages, inadequate medical facilities, and refusal to pay accident compensation. Workers say they have been raising these issues for a long time. However, no concrete action has been taken so far by the management.
To press their demands, workers held a formal meeting recently. Labour activist and agitator Bagrai Mardi attended the gathering.
The meeting unanimously chose Mardi as the leader of the proposed agitation. In addition, workers laid out their grievances in detail before the assembled group.
Addressing the meeting, Mardi said talks would be initiated with the company management over worker issues. “If the management continues to ignore these legitimate concerns, the workers will be left with no option,” a participant said.
Mardi warned of a large-scale workers’ agitation if demands were not resolved soon. He also made clear that full responsibility for any unrest would rest with the company management.
Meanwhile, the workers stressed that they had been vocal about their demands over an extended period. On the other hand, the contractor firm has not initiated any meaningful dialogue or resolution. Similar incidents of workers protesting against denial of rights have also emerged in other parts of Jharkhand recently.
The Surda Mines are part of the HCL copper mining operations in East Singhbhum. Workers said if no resolution was reached promptly, the agitation would be broadened significantly.
Hindustan Copper Limited, a public sector undertaking, operates several mining and industrial facilities across Jharkhand. The contractor system in such mines has drawn criticism over alleged labour rights violations by private firms managing the workforce.
