Oh God! more trouble? (Shilpa shetty)

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Posted: 19 years ago

Kalyan labour commissioner files case against the actor, her father and mother for violating labour laws at their Ambernath factory

After winning millions of hearts for gracefully handling Jade Goody's racist remarks and winning Celebrity Big Brother reality show in the UK, Shilpa Shetty seems to be in trouble back home in India. The Kalyan labour commissioner's office has filed a case in the Judicial Magistrate's (First Class) Court, Ulhasnagar, against Shilpa, her father Surendra Shetty and mother Sunanda Shetty for violating labour laws at their factory in Ambernath.

The trio, who are directors of Esco Closures Pvt Ltd situated on plot no W-32 (D) in Additional Ambernath MIDC, have been dragged to court for violating several provisions of Minimum Wages Act, 1948. From documents that are in possession of Mumbai Mirror, the labour commissioner's office has charged the actor and her parents under Section 18(1) read with rule 27(1), Section 19 (4) read with rule 30, Section 18(3) read with rule 27(2) and rule 28 of the MWA. The offences are punishable under Section 22 of the Act.

In short, the three directors have been accused of not maintaining a payroll muster and not giving payroll cards to their employees as is mandatory under the Act.

The directors have also been charged with paying an amount lesser than the minimum wages prescribed as per law.

Surendra Shetty, Shilpa's father

"We conducted a surprise check on the factory on July 26, 2006, and found that there were gross violations there. The muster was in not in existence. Over and above the workers had not been given attendance charts as is necessary. Besides, male and female workers were not being given equal wages as is mandatory," said Deepak Kumar Pawar, assistant labour commissioner.

He added, "Another thing that came to light was that the workers were being paid Rs 86 per day for an 8-hour shift whereas the prescribed amount as per law is Rs 110."

After finding these gross violations, Pawar explained that seven days' time, as is required by the law, was granted to the company's management to explain the lapses. "But when they did not come forward with any documents and also did not offer any explanations whatsoever, the case was referred to the deputy labour commissioner's office," said Pawar.

He explained that even the deputy commissioner's office sent a letter asking the Shettys to clarify their stand.

"When the management did not respond to any of our letters, we issued a

Sunanda Shetty, Shilpa's mother

show cause notice to the company. Even after two such notices when we did not get any response from the management we filed a case in the court on January 24, 2007," added Pawar. If the labour commissioner's office is to be believed, since it is a case of "social enactment there is no major punishment as such".

However, if the Shettys do not respond to the case filed in Ulhasngar court then they could land in more trouble.

"We can request the court the company's management is not bothered about the case and get arrest warrants issued against the three directors," said Pawar. While the case has been admitted in court, it is yet to come up for hearing. If found guilty the Shettys will have to pay a fine ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 per violation per worker.

Esco Closures
The Shettys set up Esco Closures Pvt Ltd, Ambernath, 60 km from Mumbai, in 1982. The company makes aluminum caps for bottles used in pharmaceutical industry. The company has employed 16 workers, 10 of which are female workers.