Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 16 (ANI): For tackling rising Covid-19 cases, Tamil Nadu Minister TM Anbarasan on Sunday said that the Government has made an arrangement of 950 beds with the oxygen support where the preference will be given to the frontline workers for the treatment of the disease.

Chennai Dec 22 PTI The management of a firm engaged in manufacturing of electronic parts for smartphones has declared paid holiday for a week till Sunday to its employees after some women workers resorted to a protest on December 18 over a fallout of food poisoning at a company provided accommodation government sources said on Wednesday The company planned to commence production in a phased manner at its factory located in neighbouring Sriperumbudur highly placed sources told PTI A large number of women workers engaged in the assembling and manufacturing of electronic parts to smart phones resorted to protest on Saturday leading to traffic snarl on the busy Chennai-Bengaluru highway The protest was a fallout of food poisoning that affected workers staying in company provided accommodation at suburban Vellavedu in Tiruvallur district Talking to PTI today a top official said during a meeting in which the management employees and government officials took part it was decided that a paid holiday would be declared for them till this Sunday The management informed that it was planned to commence production in a phased manner he added Last week159 employees fell sick following an outbreak of acute diarrhoeal disease after they allegedly consumed food at the accommodation All those admitted to various government hospitals were discharged later The employees resorted to protest alleging that some affected workers had succumbed However after a meeting with Labour Minister T M Anbarasan revenue and senior government officials the workers decided to withdraw their stir The Kancheepuram district administration also clarified that there were no deaths due to food poisoning and appealed to employees not to believe in rumours In a press release it announced that necessary legal action was being taken against those who were trying to spread rumours in this connection Meanwhile a detailed e-mail sent to the company seeking information on the issue did not elicit any response PTI VIJ BN BN

Chennai Sep 22 PTI Ford India was in the process of announcing a settlement package with the employees in the wake of the US-based auto major deciding to shut its two manufacturing facilities in the country under its restructuring exercise a state minister said on Wednesday Ford India earlier this month made the announcement of shutting down its operations in the country and said it would sell only imported vehicles The company which has invested about USD 25 billion at its Chennai and Sanand Gujarat plants would stop selling vehicles like the EcoSport Figo and Aspire manufactured from these factoriesOn Wednesday after holding a review meeting with the more than 50 auto parts suppliers to Ford hailing from Chengalpet Tiruvallur and Chennai Rural Industries Minister T M Anbarasan said the government has received information that Ford was in the process of announcing a settlement package to the employees Soon after reports emerged about Fords decision early this month Chief Minister M K Stalin discussed about the possibilities available to safeguard the livelihood of the employees including the feasibility of another automaker taking over the facilityThis government is industry friendly and whatever measures need to be taken will be taken in the interest of employees he told reporters Asked whether there was a possibility of announcing an interim relief package for the employees he said they were not asked to leave immediately and were receiving their salariesEven now the factory is producing cars employees are being given salaries We have enough time for that to announce a relief package They have announced closure of the plant only in 2022 he said A parts supplier who had set up shop in 1997 along with Ford which had commenced operations at Maraimalai Nagar about 45 kms from Chennai said 80 per cent of the parts manufactured were supplied to Ford and his company was earning Rs 80 crore annually We will be hit hard in the wake of Ford closing down the unit We even had the land leased from Ford to produce the auto parts he saidAnother wiper and blades manufacturer said he had set up a facility in neighbouring Oragadam at an investment of Rs seven crore and suggested that the government consider another auto major taking over the Ford facility A senior official of a company engaged in the production of fuel and braking systems for Ford India said they employ about 300 people and were in the process of seeking claims of Rs 25 crore from Ford for the loss they expect to incur in the wake of Ford shutting down the unit Later responding to a query Anbarasan said Ford has announced its decision to shut its factory by 2022 and we have received information that it was in the process of announcing a settlement package to the employees There are about 2638 workers directly employed and 1421 indirectly The Minister said during the review meeting today the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises commissioner and the principal secretary discussed the matter and one of the highlights to emerge from the meeting was that not many auto parts suppliers were directly involved with Ford They were not only supplying parts to Ford but also to other auto majors Those companies who will be hugely impacted due to Fords decision have made a request We have taken note of it We will take it up with the Chief Minister M K Stalin on further course of action he said When contacted about the comments made by the government Ford India said we will be working with the unions and other stakeholders on measures to help balance the impact and to care for those directly affected by the restructuring PTI VIJ APR APR