Tea, jute industry hit hard by demonetisation, salaries delayed: West Bengal govt

West Bengal labour minister Moloy Ghatak said on Tuesday tea and jute industries have been hit by the Centre's demonetisation drive as they are finding difficulties in operations, including payments to workers.

He said although no companies or factories had been closed down following demonetisation, salaries in 28-odd tea gardens in West Bengal have been delayed, while the fate of jute mill workers were also the same.

Ghatak said many factories were finding it difficult to sustain operations due to this and were slowly drifting towards closure.

Replying to a question in state assembly, he said there were no reports of closure or lock-out of any factory in the state since 2011. He said the present government had reopened 118 factories which were shut during the previous Left Front regime helping nearly 1.77 lakh workers to regain their employment.

Regarding the closed Dunlop and Jessop, he said the state government had been giving monthly salaries to 1,100 workers at an amount of Rs 10,000 each.

To a query on the closed Hindustan Motors, he said the government was carrying negotiations with the company authorities on a regular basis. Ghatak said things were moving in a positive direction, adding he was made aware that the company was having talks with some foreign entities.