Call for minimum wage hike: Protest outside HUL headquarter

MUMBAI: Nearly 350 workers protested outside Hindustan Unilever’s headquarter in Mumbai on Friday, demanding an increase in the minimum wage and reinstatement of a dozen dismissed employees.

As a fallout, two factories of the consumer products giant — at Amli and Dapada in Silvassa — remained partially shut on Friday. Office bearers at Hindustan Unilever Employees Federation accused the management of harassing union members while reaching out to workers individually for settlement.

"The pay is not at par with other consumer companies and only those workers who are part of a union have been harassed citing petty reasons," said Stanley TC, assistant secretary at the Mumbai federation. "We are demanding reinstatement of nearly 12 employees who were sacked and three others who were suspended," he said.

HUL denied the allegation and said the company has always respected employees’ rights to join legally recognised trade union or any other body representing their collective interests.

"At our factories, we are following the due process for discussions with representative unions," a company spokesperson said. "Where we have not arrived at a mutually acceptable settlements, there are few issues pending before the appropriate authorities. We will continue to engage with our employees so that we can resolve the issues."

About 350 workers of HUL, along with some 100 family members, staged demonstrations outside the firm’s Andheri office on Friday afternoon.