Sterling Biotech employees protest over bonus

Udhagamandalam: Employees of Sterling Biotech Limited (Ooty) staged a protest in front of the collectorate in Ooty on Monday, demanding a bonus for Diwali. Around 125 people including 105 employees of the company and supporters of trade unions took part in the protest.Sterling Biotech Ltd, a private industrial unit manufacturing edible and non-edible grade gelatines, located at Sandynallah near Ooty town, was bought over by Perfect Day Inc.11 months ago. The company has not been functional since it was issued a closure order by the Pollution Control Board (PCB) in June 2018.According to U Moorthy, general secretary of Sterling Biotech Employees Union, despite being sold as a running company, there has not been any production even after the change of ownership. The employees demand that the management start production.“It has been 11 months since the company was taken over by the new management. Hence, we are demanding a bonus for the 11 months ahead of Diwali. There are about 105 employees attached to the company”, said Moorthy.Since the closure of the unit due to pollution-related issues, the employees are being given only 50% of their salary. “Firstly, we demand a bonus for which we appeal to the new management for a dialogue. Once the bonus issue is over, we will further demand the management to start production”, he added.We also published the following articles recentlyHaryana company gifts Tata cars to employees before Diwali: DetailsHaryana-based pharmaceutical company, Mits Healthcare, has gifted Tata cars to 12 employees ahead of Diwali. Owner MK Bhatia praised the employees as stars and celebrities of the company. The employees were surprised and some did not even know how to drive. Bhatia stated that the cars were a reward for hard work, honesty, and trustworthiness, and more employees will receive cars in the future. The exact variant of the Tata Punch SUV gifted to the employees is unknown, but prices start from Rs 6 lakh.Haryana pharma company rewards 12 employees with cars ahead of DiwaliThe owner of a pharma company in Panchkula, Haryana, rewarded 12 employees with cars as a token of appreciation for their hard work, perseverance, and loyalty. The owner treats his employees as celebrities and stars, acknowledging their efforts in the company’s success. He plans to gift cars to 38 more employees in the future. The employees expressed their happiness and gratitude for the recognition they received.Rs 7,000 Diwali bonus for govt staffDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced a Diwali bonus of Rs 7,000 for 80,000 Group B and Group C employees in the Delhi government. Kejriwal stated that the employees are like family and that the government has achieved significant progress in various sectors. The bonus will cost the government Rs 56 crore.