MCCL employees suspend hunger strike protest after govt assures to release salary

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 10, 2020

Employees of the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) have decided to temporarily suspend their indefinite hunger strike following the state government’s assurance to release part of their pending salaries within this month.

The assurance was made by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during a meeting held with a delegation of Mawmluh Cherra Cement Employees’ Union (MCCEU) on Thursday.

“We have decided to temporarily suspend our indefinite hunger strike as the chief minister has assured to release our pending salaries within this month,” MCCEU president, S Diengdoh told reporters after the meeting.

He however said the chief minister did not mentioned as to how many months salary will be released by the government.

The pending salaries include five months from November 2015 to March 2016 and 10 months salaries from February this year till date. 

The other demands also include 7 years overtime from 2013 till date, arrears of pay revision from April 2018 till date, medical reimbursement and other welfare facilities.

Asked, The MCCEU president said that if the government fails to comply with the demands, the union will be compelled to continue with its agitation from January, next year.

On the other hand, Diengdoh said that union has also requested the government to take steps to ensure the smooth functioning of the cement plant.

“Even if the government decided to go for a joint venture, we have maintained that the union should continue to look after the welfare and interest of the employees,” he said.