Ambuj Sharma Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, visited the ailing Hindustan Photo Films (HPF), near here, on Thursday.
Coming at a time when production has come to a standstill and over half of the employees have applied for voluntary retirement, the visit fuelled speculation of the company being wound up soon.
Enquiries made by The Hindu revealed that the visit was to gain first-hand knowledge of the situation in the company after the opening of a Voluntary Retirement Scheme.
Mr. Sharma held talks with the Chairman-cum-Managing Director Girish Kumar and representatives of various unions.
He reportedly told them that salary support cannot be extended to the workers beyond the current fiscal. He also advised those who have not opted for the VRS to do so without delay.
Out of 639 officers and workers who are still on the rolls of the company, 334 have opted for retirement. About 260 employees are expected to go by the end of the month.
