Biscuit and confectionary maker Parle Products will shut its manufacturing plant in Bangalore effective September 9. The company, after witnessing a prolonged dispute with striking workers over several issues, has received the Karnataka government’s approval to close the factory.

The labour department issued an official order on August 3, permitting the company to close its factory. The order has been passed under Section 25 (O) (2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

Parle set up its factory in Bangalore in 2001 at an investment of Rs 70 crore. It has about 250 employees on its rolls. For two years, the factory workers were striking on and off and the management had declared a lock-out on March 15, continuing till date. The management had filed an application for closure of the factory before the labour department on June 6, after its relations with labour union went sour.

Reasons

The management had cited several reasons for the closure, including disturbance to industrial peace by illegal union activities for the past couple of years, violation of directives issued by a civil court and high court of Karnataka, breach of a bilateral settlement and endangering the safety of the plant. The workers’ union has denied the management’s allegations and described the application for closure as mala fide and without any genuine reasons.

Apart from the factories in Mumbai and Bangalore, Parle also has factories in Bahadurgarh, Haryana and Neemrana, Rajasthan. These are the largest biscuit and confectionery plants in the country. Additionally, Parle Products also has 10 manufacturing units and 75 manufacturing units on contract.

Started in 1929, Parle has over 20 brands of biscuits including the very popular Parle-G glucose biscuit.