Chennai : The first-ever class action litigation moved in the country by industrial workers against occupational health exposure has ended in a settlement with the multinational giant Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on Wednesday agreeing to pay an “undisclosed” ex-gratia amount to 591 former employees of its thermometer factory in Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu.
The employees, who were exposed to occupation health hazards due to prolonged exposure to mercury vapour at the thermometer factory, that was shutdown by the Pollution Control Board 16 years ago, had filed the litigation against HUL in the Madras High Court, a decade ago. Going in for a settlement, the HUL also assured the ex-workers that they would be supported with future health care benefits.
“The terms of the agreement will help to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the factory’s former workers,” SA Mahindra Babu, the president of the Pond’s HLL ex-Mercury Employees Welfare Association, was quoted as saying in a statement issued by HUL soon after the settlement was formalised. He said now the issue was fully resolved and the employees did not have any more grievances against the company. Following the settlement, the workers’ union has agreed to withdraw a similar class action petition before the High Court of London where the company is headquartered.
“We have worked hard over many years to address this and find the right solution for our former workers. We, alongside all involved, are glad to see an outcome to this long-standing case.
The wellbeing of our employees and the communities in which we operate has and will always remain paramount.
This agreement demonstrates our commitment to this,” Dev Bajpai, Executive Diector – Legal and Corporate Affairs said in a statement. Accepting the mutual settlement, a bench led by Chief Justice S.K. Kaul, appointed advocate Suhrith Parthasarathy as nodal commissioner to implement the settlement and posted the matter to March 28 for
reporting.
