CPI(ML) has expressed deep grief over the death of at least six women workers, most of them migrant labourers, following a suspected ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing factory in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu on June 21. In a statement, the party said the tragedy once again highlighted the alarming state of industrial safety in workplaces across the country. Referring to the recent gas leak incident at the Chennai Port complex, CPI(ML) noted that repeated industrial disasters point to a growing disregard for workers' lives and safety.
The party said that negligence on the part of employers and regulatory authorities, combined with the weakening of labour protections and safety regulations, has contributed to the rise in workplace accidents and industrial disasters in recent months. It criticized the Central Government's labour codes and the dilution of safety norms, arguing that these measures have further undermined workers' rights and protections.
CPI(ML) extended its condolences to the families of the deceased workers and expressed solidarity with all those injured in the incident. The party demanded that the Tamil Nadu government ensure proper medical treatment for the injured, adequate compensation for the families of the deceased, and all necessary support for those affected by the disaster. The party also called for a thorough investigation into the incident, fixing responsibility on all those found accountable. It stressed that those responsible must face stringent action and warned against any compromise on workers' safety in the name of "ease of doing business."
CPI(ML) said that the recurring loss of workers' lives in industrial accidents underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of workplace safety standards, stronger labour protections, and greater accountability from both employers and government authorities.
