On Saturday, employees of Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Kalamassery presented a memorandum to Rajya Sabha member John Brittas, appealing for his intervention to address the ongoing financial turmoil within the public sector entity.
The HMT Employees Union (CITU) outlined their grievances in the memorandum, highlighting the persistent delays in salary disbursements. They called on the central government to implement the long-awaited HMT revival package that was announced previously.
In a statement issued by the union, they reported that Mr. Brittas assured them he would raise the matter with the central authorities. The memorandum pointed out that despite assurances given in a December 2025 meeting with Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the promised revival package remains unimplemented even after a span of seven months.
The union further claimed that a lack of working capital and insufficient manpower have severely impacted production capabilities, even though there are pending orders amounting to ₹52 crore. Additionally, they noted that the cessation of employee bus services since August 1, along with delays in retirement benefits for numerous former staff members, have exacerbated the crisis.
Background Context
The financial distress at HMT is not an isolated case within India’s public sector; similar challenges have been reported across various state-owned enterprises, raising concerns about the sustainability of these entities. The implementation of the revival package could play a crucial role in revitalizing operations and ensuring job security for employees.
Public financial crises like this one typically draw attention not just from employees but also from policymakers who are tasked with maintaining the health of the public sector. The outcome of such interventions by lawmakers can lead to greater accountability and potentially more robust support structures for employees in distress.
