The 360-odd workers at the Salt Lake factory have been constantly knocking at the doors of the states' labour department and also leaders of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu), the CPI(M)'s labour wing, only to be told that the Philips case is being handled by the chief minister himself.

The workers did get an appointment with finance minister Asim Dasgupta on Good Friday, but Dasgupta did not turn up. Sources among the workers said Citu leaders are not very keen to secure a meeting with Basu on their behalf. The workers told The Financial Express that the labour department's officials have expressed their inability to do anything as they have an insignificant role.

"Top officials in the state labour department, including the labour secretary and labour commissioner, havetold us that they have nothing much to do for the Philips workers, as the case is being handled by the chief minister. In fact, all related papers and documents are with him," a worker said.

However, neither the workers nor the government officials are aware of the fate of the workers or the unit. "We hardly know what will happen to the workforce or to this plant exactly after a week. The management has already made formal announcements of shifting their colour television production base from the city to Pune but the state government has not taken any action to stop them," workers said.

They are also doubting Basu's role. One worker said: "When we were fighting against the voluntary retirement scheme, the chief minister pressurised us to accept it and we did. The workforce was reduced from about 850 to around 500. But what was the result? The plant is being shifted. Once again he is looking into the matter, no one knows what will happen now".

The workers apprehend that if the government delays takingaction, the state will suffer a permanent loss as the Philips management has already begun packing up to move out of Calcutta.

"This unit can produce 38,000 colour TVs a month but at the moment we are hardly producing anything. "The order books show that we have work for another three to four days and for that also we do not need the total workforce. This shows that the company has started with the packing up activities," the workers said.

Philips Workers' Union general secretary SN Roychowdhury said that the existing plant and workforce can still be used for other activities. "This unit can still produce 25,000 black and white TVs a month. It can also manufacture computer hardware and peripherals, but the management is taking no interest," Roychowdhury said.

The management has been saying the same statement -- "We are working on various options" -- for the last three months. It is yet to announce a final decision on the future of the unit.

It is learnt that the Philips management has also assured theworkers of the Salt Lake unit that their interests will never be harmed, whatever option the company chooses.

Roychowdhury also asked the state government to consider the economic importance of this unit. "On an average we pay an annual sales tax of Rs 50 crore, which goes to the state exchequer and Rs 100 crore central excise.

"The unit pays customs duties to the tune of Rs 125 crore, income tax of about Rs 15 crore and generates business of Rs 20 crore for ancillary units," he said.