INDUSTRY FACES HARDSHIPS- Bringing workers to their workplace gets costlier in Punjab

Ludhiana, May 21, 2016: Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), Ludhiana held an interaction with Madan Mohan Mittal, Minister of Industries and Shakti Sharma Chairman PSIEC, on Friday at Udyog Bhavan, Chandigarh.

During the discussion, Avtar Singh, President, CICU requested that VAT refund is being delayed by the Excise and Taxation Department which has stopped the growth and development of MSMEs as crores of rupees are withheld by the Department. He also requested that electricity rates are not at par with the new units coming up in the state. He requested that there should not be any disparity with the existing units as they are equally active in the development and growth of Punjab and are also providing employment to lakhs of people. He demanded the same tariff for the existing industries.

He further requested to the minister for demarcation of 100 acres of land in proposed focal point at Dhanansu, Ludhiana for other most needed clusters. He also explained that registration fees/annual fees for the buses/ transportation used for bringing the labourer from their place to factories is increased from Rs. 50000 to Rs. 3 lakhs which will discourage the employers to use buses for their workers. It will also affect the welfare measures adopted for the workforce. He further reminded that this issue was agreed and decided by the Punjab Government to reduce the annual fees, which is still pending for orders.

Mittal has assured the delegates that their demands will be considered sympathetically.