Over 4,000 workers of the Bhatpara-based Reliance Jute Mills, one of the country’s oldest, were left out in the cold after the factory authorities suspended production for an indefinite period in the wake of an agitation over payment of gratuity and retirement benefits to 165 workers.

The workers, who have been demonstrating, stopped work on Tuesday morning, following which the mill authorities suspended work without issuing a notice.

Set up in 1906, Reliance Jute Mills is a pioneer in the production and marketing of non-traditional goods such as high-quality decorative fabric and jute yarn ideal for export.

The workers said they were shocked at the “indifferent attitude” towards the retired employees, who are yet to receive their dues even after a year of retirement.

Ashok Kumar Sahu, a mill worker who participated in the agitation, said: “Last year, 165 workers retired. But none of them has so far been paid gratuity. The mill authorities have on a number of occasions failed to keep their promise of payment. The delay has landed the elderly retired workers in great problem, which the mill authorities seem oblivious to.”

The workers’ unions began the protest last week, organising regular demonstrations. On Tuesday a section of the workers stopped work.

“We wanted a clear reply from the mill authorities, but they have been misleading us. We have a lot of other problems, including irregular payment of wages. But we had demanded the payment of the dues of the retired workers only,” a worker said.

Reliance Jute Mills authorities later in the morning announced the suspension of work.

“An officer called us and announced that production at the mill will remain suspended for an indefinite period. They did not issue any formal suspension notice, but deliberately stopped work without solving the problems of the retired workers,” a worker said.

Senior officials of the company refused to speak on the issue despite repeated calls, saying they were “busy” in meetings. A mill official said on the condition of anonymity: “Production was hampered in the past two days because of the agitation. So we decided to stop work until normality is restored.”