The Pawan Kumar Ruia Group has sought permission from the West Bengal government to recast Jessop & Company saying that it should either be allowed to introduce productivity linked wages or halve the workforce. It has said that if the government does not allow these things then the company may have to go for closure of the units which employs 600 people. Mr.Ruia had bought over the public sector unit in 2003 when the Government divested its interest. Jessop, which was once a blue chip wagon manufacturing and engineering company, has units here and in Durgapur.
The company said that the it has not been able to meet the Rs.2 crore wage bill and payments have become irregular since September 2013.
Government officials confirmed the receipt of the letter saying that what the Jessop management has wanted is unacceptable. They also said that there was no dearth of work for the company.