Thiruvananthapuram: Excesses of militant trade unions have been a bane of Kerala for long. Many enterprises across the state are closing down these days as their owners are unable to withstand the onslaught of labour gangs who resort to threats and violence. Though Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself had assailed the nefarious practices by trade unions, businesses continue to be at the receiving end.

Three days after the closure of Porkali Steels at Pazhayangadi in Kannur district, due to labour dispute, CITU-led workers are still continuing their agitation in front of the enterprise. Shopowner TV Mohanlal said that he has approached the court and if there is no other way, he would wind up the business.

The agitation of a section of headload workers has been going on in front of Veenus Enterprises at Palazhi in Kozhikode district for the past two months after the owner started employing workers of his choice. The labour dispute is now pending before the court. The police are giving security cover to the shop following a court order.

After its closure on March 1 due to a labour dispute, CK Materials in Perambra opened its shutters the other day. However, the joint panel of unions started agitating again in front of the shop. According to shopowner C K Biju, the workers employed by him will continue to handle the headload work till the final verdict of the court is out.

A similar situation prevails in a shop near Vydyuthi Bahavan in Chathannoor in Kollam district. Though the shop opened the other day after one-and-a-half years, vehicles carrying goods were waylaid and disallowed to enter the premises of the shop by the workers.

The trade unions, however, point out that there is a court order to the effect that the employees registered under the Headload Workers' Welfare Board are eligible for work till the workers engaged by the owners of the enterprises get labour cards.