BJP Leader Seeks Settlement of Kovur Sugar Factory Workers’ Long-Pending Dues

NELLORE: BJP leader Midathala Ramesh has urged the Andhra Pradesh government to immediately clear the long-pending wages, provident fund (PF) and gratuity dues of former employees of the Kovur Cooperative Sugar Factory, which has remained closed for over 15 years.

Accompanied by former factory workers, Ramesh met Deputy Commissioner of Labour Ch. Vijay Kumar Reddy on Monday and submitted a representation seeking early intervention.

He said about 300 permanent employees and another 300 NMR workers had served the factory, but their statutory benefits and wage arrears remained unpaid despite its closure. He alleged that the public sector undertaking had left its former employees in severe financial distress.

Ramesh claimed that nearly 200 former workers had died while awaiting settlement of their dues. He urged the government to create a special fund to clear the payments instead of waiting for the appointment of a liquidator and the sale of the factory’s assets.

He further claimed that workers’ issues relating to five of the six cooperative sugar factories in the state had already been resolved, while those of the Nellore Cooperative Sugar Factory remained pending.

Recalling that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had promised during the elections to address the workers’ grievances, Ramesh said the issue had also been raised in the Assembly by local legislators. Though the government had reportedly decided to release funds, the necessary orders were yet to be issued.

“Most of the surviving workers are now in their old age. The government should act without further delay and bring relief to their families,” he said.