Indian employees of a steel factory in Sri Lanka on strike

Dec 10, Colombo: A group of 76 Indian nationals employed in a steel mill in Madampe near Chilaw in North Western Province of Sri Lanka have commenced a strike.

Indian workers of Bhuwalka Steel Industries (Sri Lanka) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of India's Bhuwalka group say they were not paid the salary agreed by the company when they were brought to Sri Lanka.

In addition to less pay, they also say that some employees have not been paid any salary for three months.

A group of Sri Lankan employees have also complained that the company has not deposited their EPF and ETF. A case filed by the Department of Labour is also pending against the management of this company in Chilaw court.

The factory was in courts before on allegations of unfair trade practices and production of low quality steel marketed for Sri Lanka's construction industry.

The factory commissioned on October 2000 is a project of Sri Lanka's Board of Investment (BOI).