KINS DESK
Srinagar, Oct 31 (KINS):The Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries development Corporation Limited (SICOP) Employees Union, has submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Industries and Commerce Surinder Choudhary, urging immediate attention to critical issues ‘threatening the organization’s future’.
The memorandum highlights the severe challenges facing SICOP, including the ‘cessation of marketing and raw material assistance that has historically supported small-scale industries in the Union Territory’.
SICOP was established in 1975, to provide crucial marketing assistance to local businesses.
The memorandum of SICOP employees Union Jammu and Kashmir accessed by news agency KINS states, “The business turnover of SICOP was 1200 crore, but over the past three to four years, our marketing capabilities have been severely compromised. As a result, thousands of families in the small-scale industry (SSI) sector, along with many SICOP employees, are suffering.”
The union expressed deep concern regarding the plight of employees, many of whom according to memorandum have gone unpaid for months.
“Our workers have been waiting for their salaries for three to five months, and retirement benefits for several employees remain unsettled. We need immediate intervention to restore our operations,”.
The memorandum outlines several key demands, including:
The restoration of Marketing and Raw Material Support: The union seeks a revival of services that assist local industries in competing with larger companies. Regularization of Long-term Employees: Many workers, some with up to 20 years of service, are still not regularized and require job security. Pension for Employees: The union advocates for bringing all employees under a pension scheme to ensure their financial stability post-retirement.
The union expresses hope that the current administration, under the leadership of the Deputy Chief Minister, will take a comprehensive approach to address these issues.
“We believe that with your support, we can elevate SICOP to new heights and significantly boost the industrial sector of J&K, contributing to national development,”
The Deputy CM as per memorandum has instructed the Managing Director SICOP to provide a report .(KINS)
‘J&K SICOP employees unpaid for months’ Union submits memorandum to Deputy CM for urgent intervention
