Locked Out and Unpaid: How Can I Get My Due Salary and Settlement in Kolkata?

My Pvt Ltd company was locked out in July 2015, and before closing, my 5 months' salary was also due. Management instructed all lower staff to stay at home and come when called. However, all senior staff continued to work regularly even before the company closed, and they are now at the head office. When we found out and went to the head office, our MD did not want to meet us. In my company, the lockout was due to a workmanship strike for a salary hike. What should we do in these conditions to receive our full and final settlement? Where should we go in Kolkata for assistance? Please help and guide me.

Dear Anonymous, Unless you know the full subject matter, it would be difficult to comment upon. However, to tell you, a lockout means the temporary closing of a place of employment, the suspension of work, or the refusal by an employer to continue employing any number of persons employed by them. Due to a lockout, the employer-employee relationship does not come to an end, and therefore, there is no question of a full and final settlement.

It seems your employer has declared a lockout in response to a strike by employees to which you are not a party. Under the circumstances, you, meaning your set of employees, need to consult a lawyer and decide your future course of action as to whether to join the striking employees or not. You need to take the steps very carefully.