Baddi Industrial are photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla/Baddi, May 31,
A blow to the industrial landscape of Himachal Pradesh, two major companies—Wipro Enterprises and Hutamaki India—have ceased operations at their respective manufacturing units in the Baddi industrial belt, leaving nearly 150 workers in a state of uncertainty and triggering widespread discontent over alleged labour rights violations.
Wipro Enterprises formally shut down one of its manufacturing units on May 24, attributing the decision to mounting financial losses and prolonged disruptions following an employee strike that began in December 2024. The company stated that, despite multiple efforts to restore normalcy, sustaining operations had become unfeasible. The sudden closure displaced 80 workers, many of whom were reportedly denied entry when they arrived for duty, effectively ending the ongoing deadlock between the employees and the management. Wipro’s Employees Union has lodged formal complaints with top state authorities, including the Chief Minister and the Labour Commissioner, accusing the management of using coercive tactics and imposing unfair conditions for negotiations—such as demanding the withdrawal of police cases against workers. Wipro, in its defence, has maintained that all closures were carried out in accordance with legal procedures and that proper intimation was sent to the state’s Labour Secretary. Notably, the company’s second unit in Baddi remains functional.
Simultaneously, turmoil has erupted at the Hutamaki India Limited plant, where local employees have accused the company’s management of forcing them to resign under the threat of transfers to far-flung locations. According to a formal letter sent by the Hutamaki India Employees Union on May 30, the HR team, led by Manager Jitendra, allegedly barred several workers from entering the premises and refused to hold any dialogue. The tension escalated after a particular employee was singled out and denied access to the facility on May 26, prompting a spontaneous sit-in protest the following day. The union has now declared an indefinite strike starting May 31 and has erected protest tents outside the factory gates. Holding HR Manager Jitendra, GM Pakach Pol, and Sachin Patil accountable for any potential escalation, the union has warned of serious consequences if the controversial transfer orders are not immediately withdrawn.
The back-to-back shutdowns have intensified concerns about a growing wave of industrial unrest in Baddi, which has long been regarded as a manufacturing nerve centre for northern India. With thousands of livelihoods tethered to the region’s factories, the sudden job losses have raised questions about the future of industrial harmony and labour rights enforcement in Himachal Pradesh. As tensions continue to mount, all eyes are now on the state’s labour authorities, whose intervention is being seen as crucial to resolving the standoff and ensuring that displaced workers are not left in the lurch.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
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