If the city labour commissionerate grants permission, then over 125 workers of Riter India, a textile machinery-manufacturing firm, stand to lose their jobs to the economic slowdown. This Satara-based firm is the latest in line to apply to the Pune labour commissionerate seeking permission to retrench workers due to the downturn.

In the March-April period, the labour commissionerate has received three fresh applications from companies requesting permission to lay off or retrench workers - from Riter India, Trinity India Pvt Ltd, and a chemical unit that is situated in Nira, 40 km from Pune.

A senior representative of Riter India said this was a “survival move” designed to save the rest of the workers. “The textile industry is one of the worst hit and is in recession. At least with this move, we will be able to save whatever is left of the company and ensure that the other workers continue working,” he said. The company has around 190 workers.

Between October and March, 12 companies had submitted applications seeking lay-offs. M Forge had filed for closure but its application was rejected by the commissionerate; the appeal is pending in the High Court. Two applications for lay-offs were rejected while one company withdrew its application.

“Till now, we have granted permission for laying off 1,138 workers with the consent of their unions,” said deputy labour commissioner D P Pagar. “We have granted lay-off permission only for about six days a month for an average period of 4-6 months,” Pagar said.

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