Unions See Move To Weaken RINL

Visakhapatnam: "Our case is a classic example of government apathy. Instead of strengthening it, there are systematic attempts to weaken it so that it can be handed over on a platter to the private investors," D Adinarayana, general secretary of the recognised union, told Bizz Buzz.

Even after the Centre cleared Rs11,440-croe revival package, the employees of RINL are sceptical about the seriousness to put the steel plant back on the right track. They are facing severe work pressure to increase productivity in the face of heavy shortage of manpower."When RINL was producing three million tonnes, we had 18,000 permanent workforce and 10,000 contract workers. Now after the revival package, 1126 have been sent home under the Golden Handshake Scheme.

After vacancies caused by VRS and superannuation as on March 31, 2025, we are left with only 10,400 permanent employees and 13,000 contract workers," said Visakha Steel Employees' Congress (VSEC) president Neerukonda Ramachandra Rao.With recent denial of gate passes to 2,000 contract workers, fearing their removal from work, all the trade unions have served an indefinite strike notice on the management on or after April 16.