The Dunlop India management has assured to pay workers' salary due for February next week, according to the workers' union.

Management representatives made the commitment at a meeting with the Dunlop Factory Employees Union, which represents workers at the tyre manufacturer's Ambattur factory, in the presence of the Tamil Nadu Labour Minister, Mr S.T. Chellapandian, said union representatives.

Dunlop suspended operations at the factory from February 21 due to security concerns and blamed it on workers' unrest. However, the union has refuted the management's charge and in turn accused the management of poor production planning and delaying wage payments.

The factory was supplying rubber mix, a raw material to manufacture tyres, to a group concern. The company has been going through a financial crunch and has not been working to capacity.

A union representative said the nearly 500 workers on the rolls of the company have also urged the State Government to intervene on their behalf to ensure the management pays the wages for March and April. The management had chosen to suspend operations during this period but the workers cannot be expected to sacrifice their salary.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata High Court-appointed Special Officer to inventory the assets of the factory has completed the work and is expected to submit the list to the Court next week, according to union sources.

The Special Officer was accompanied by a representative of one of the nine creditors, SBI Global Factors, who had filed a petition for recovery of dues. The creditors include raw material supplier Madura Coats and financial institutions. Management and union representatives were also present during the three days of inventorying that started on Wednesday.

>rbalaji@thehindu.co.in

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