Unions demand reopening of NTC mills in Tamil Nadu without prerequisite

The National Textile Factory in Tamil Nadu lasted for more than five years. |Picture source: S. Siva Saravanan

Tamil Nadu’s trade union demands the reopening of seven textile mills operated by the National Textile Company (NTC) at the State University.

Aituc head M. Arumugam told Hindu On Tuesday, NTC management recently sent a letter to individual workers asking about their recommendations for reopening the factory, which has been closed since March 2020. “In the history of NTC Mills, it was unions that spoke on behalf of workers. Therefore, NTC management should seek the perspective of the union and dismiss the view of a single worker and determine a person, and determine a person’s willingness. Reopening the factory immediately, there is no prerequisite,” he said.

Over the past five years, 23 NTC mills in the country have continued to close in Tamil Nadu, where the factories are used to employ about 5,000 permanent workers. The NTC paid the workers all their wages until June 2023. The union also demands that wages be arrears and pay statutory benefits to workers.

HMS leader TS Rajamani said that the union leaders in Coimbatore are trying to meet with union textile minister Giriraj Singh to discuss the discussion about NTC Mills. “The NTC has a source of funds. It should reopen the factories and operate them. The plans for these factories in the central government plan are not clear as these factories have been closed since these factories have been closed since the Covid Pandemic. We have not met with the new union minister. We are trying to meet him with support from Coimbatore MP,” he said.