Government forms panel to monitor Cambata Aviation

Mumbai: The government has formed an action committee with officials from the central and state labour department along with affected labourers to monitor the issue against Cambata Aviation and Bird Worldwide Flight Service (BWFS) for allegedly refusing to cooperate with government officials who were confiscating the company’s equipment on court directions.

Earlier, labour minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar had ordered legal action to be initiated against the company for delay in releasing its employees’ pending dues. The action was taken after the company ceased operations in Mumbai, leaving employees in the lurch.

On Monday activist Anjali Damania along with Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe met several authorities in the state government. “Despite several warnings and notices from authorities, the management did not pay the dues and hence, as per orders of the industrial court, recovery procedures were initiated on January 6 and 7 and two FIRs were filed related to Cambata Aviation for non-compliance and BWFS using Cambata’s equipment despite it being seized and sealed by the government, said Ms Damania.

Ms Damania, added, “There have been several suicides and deaths of workers who are unable to face the misery that has been thrusted on them and the inaction of the government. The workers are owed around `109 crore, including their salary and bonuses of the past two years”

Meanwhile, BWFS, in a statement, said, “The state government, tehsildar and office of collector, despite being aware of high court orders, forcibly removed the equipment subsequently on the evening of January 6 to 8, 2017.... We are committed to follow the law of the land and will continue to co-operate with the authorities as required.”