Around 208 employees of Wipro Enterprises, Waluj to lose job
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : Wipro Enterprises has decided to shut its Waluj facility from Dec 10, citing a shift to LED technology and non-viability of traditional lighting products. More than 200 workers at Wipro Enterprises’ Waluj facility face an uncertain future after the company announced that it will shut the plant from Dec 10, citing the rapid shift to LED technology and the declining viability of conventional lighting products. The closure will affect around 208 employees, many of whom have spent decades at the factory.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Wipro Enterprises said the lighting industry had undergone a major transformation due to the widespread adoption of LEDs, sharply reducing demand for the incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps and tube lights manufactured at the Waluj unit. Workers’ union leader Sanjay Kothule said the central rules under which the company announced the shutdown are yet to be ratified by Maharashtra govt. Stay updated with the latest Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar news.
“Along with changing market dynamics, rising input costs and increasing operating overheads, these factors have significantly impacted long-term viability of the facility,” the company said. The company said it had explored several options over the past few years to keep the unit running. “However, after careful consideration of all factors, it has been concluded that continuing operations at Waluj is no longer commercially viable,” Wipro Enterprises said, adding that the unit would be closed in accordance with applicable rules. the company said it would engage with employees, union representatives and govt officials and fulfil all legal obligations during the closure process While expressing concern over the impact on workers and their families. “Moreover, the company has offered blanket one-time compensation of Rs 7.5 lakh under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) scheme irrespective of varied remaining service years of employees,” he said. “Employees have decided to fight legally,” he added.
Workers’ representatives, however, have termed the move illegal and vowed to challenge it in court. The decision has triggered anger among employees, who argue that the closure process itself is flawed. The Waluj facility, operated by Wipro Enterprises, manufactures traditional lighting products including incandescent bulbs, fluorescent lamps, tube lights and specialised industrial lighting variants. Download the TOI App.