HMT crisis: employees seek MP’s intervention
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HMT Employees Union members in Kalamassery have petitioned MP John Brittas to address chronic salary delays and stalled revival efforts. Despite prior assurances from the Union Heavy Industries Minister, workers continue to face severe financial instability due to a lack of working capital and manpower.
The Ongoing Crisis at HMT Kalamassery: A Call for Urgent Intervention
The Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) unit in Kalamassery finds itself at a critical juncture as employees, represented by the CITU-affiliated HMT Employees Union, have formally sought the intervention of Rajya Sabha member John Brittas. The core of their grievance centers on chronic delays in salary disbursements, a symptom of the deeper, systemic financial instability that has plagued the public sector unit for years. This latest development underscores the growing frustration among the workforce, who see their livelihoods threatened by the stagnant state of the facility.
The Stalled Revival Package
At the heart of the dispute is the long-pending revival package, which was previously announced by the Central government but has failed to materialize in any meaningful capacity. The union's memorandum highlights a stark disconnect between high-level policy promises and ground-level execution. Despite a formal meeting with Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in December 2025, which provided a glimmer of hope for workers, seven months have passed without the implementation of the promised financial support. This delay has left the factory in a state of suspended animation, unable to effectively resume operations or stabilize its workforce.
Financial Instability and Operational Hurdles
Beyond the immediate issue of unpaid wages, the union has pointed to a severe shortage of working capital and a depletion of essential manpower as the primary drivers of the crisis. These factors create a feedback loop of decline: without working capital, the unit cannot procure the resources required for production; without production, revenue remains stagnant, making it impossible to pay employees or reinvest in the facility. This lack of liquidity has effectively paralyzed the unit’s ability to compete in a modern industrial landscape, threatening its long-term viability as a public sector asset.
Political Accountability and Future Implications
John Brittas’s assurance to take the matter to the Centre places the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the Union Heavy Industries Ministry. The political pressure is mounting, as the failure to revitalize HMT reflects broader challenges in managing aging public sector undertakings (PSUs) in an era of rapid industrial transformation. If the revival package remains stalled, it risks not only the loss of skilled jobs but also the permanent closure of a historic industrial pillar, which would have significant socio-economic ramifications for the Kalamassery region.
Path Toward Resolution
To avert a total collapse, the Centre must move beyond mere assurances and provide a concrete timeline for the release of funds. The immediate priority must be the settlement of outstanding salaries to alleviate the humanitarian burden on the workforce. Following this, a comprehensive restructuring plan—addressing both the capital deficit and the recruitment of necessary personnel—is essential if HMT is to transition from a struggling entity back into a productive, self-sustaining unit. The coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether the government is truly committed to the revival of this historic institution.
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