Hindustan Photo Films staff stage sit-in protest after closure notice

Coimbatore

Notices were put up at the entrance asking employees not to report for duty and leave the premises. Though similar closure notices were issued in the past also along with a VRS offer. But the employees rejected the offer and continued to come for work.

The iconic HPF, which at one point of time employed more than 5000 workers, is now left with a mere 165 employees. The unit, which was involved in manufacture of photographic films, cine films, X-ray films, graphic arts films and photographic paper, was declared a sick unit by the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction in 1996.

In the notice put up at the HPF premises, V Vinayan, Deputy General Manager, Human Resources, HPF said that it was announced on June 30, 2016 that employees should stop coming to duty. 

“Hence the 165 employees should leave with immediate effect by accepting VRS, while settlement amount will be deposited in bank accounts after court orders. Employees staying in the HPF quarters should also vacate the premises within 30 days,” said the notice. 

However, HPF INTUC general secretary Radhakrishnan said that Supreme Court did not pass any orders directing employees to leave. “For the last 16 months the HPF management didn’t disburse salaries to 165 employees. Their families are largely affected as they couldn’t pay even school fees of their wards. We desperately wait a favourable order from the apex court,” he said. 

At this juncture, the management put up a notice announcing sudden closure of the unit following which the employees staged a sit in protest on the HPF premises. However, they dispersed after HPF officials held talks with them. 

For long, there have been demands from Ooty residents to turn the plant into a medical facility, a college, and an entertainment centre, which might also generate employment opportunities for people in the hill district.

COMPANY’S JOURNEY

• In 1960, the Hindustan Photo Films Ltd (HPF), a public sector undertaking, was opened in The Nilgiris
• After 36 years, the HPF was declared sick in 1996
• Around 5000 employees, mostly hill residents, worked in the unit during its heyday
• At present, 165 employees are on rolls
• Production activities were suspended in 2013
• Rs 181 crore VRS package for employees was announced in 2013.
• HPF had a negative net worth (liabilities more than the value of its assets) of Rs 939.72 crore in 1999-2000

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