HLL union to agitate against Sewri closure

The workers describe the transfer of the Sewri factory to HLL arm Bon Ltd as an eyewash, saying it is almost definct.

The distressed workers of Hindustan Lever Ltd have threatened to launch an agitation against the closure of its factory at Sewri and the decision of the Labour Commissioner upholding the same.

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The workers, under the banner of Hindustan Lever Employees' Union, in a statement on Saturday alleged that HLL made a "bogus" transfer of its Sewri factory to its subsidiary Bon Ltd, which has only a share capital of five lakh, no soaps business and no employees or independent manufacturing.

"The purpose of the sale was to somehow close the Mumbai factory by showing losses," the statement said.

The Labour Commissioner on July 26 had directed Bon Ltd to give VRS to workers and granted HLL the permission to close down the Sewri factory.