GORKHA: Claiming that they were yet to get the government-hiked salaries, unionists affiliated with the UCPN-Maoist on Thursday shut down Gorakhkali Rubber Industry — the only rubber industry in the country.

The workers belonging to All Nepal Industrial Workers’ Union, closed the industry indefinitely saying that they did not get the increased salaries of four months, as fixed by the government last year.

According to them, the industry management is yet to pay Rs 8,000, including the Dashain allowance, to each of them. “We will halt the work until the management does not provide the due salary to all workers,” said Krishna Pokharel, chairman of the Maoist workers’ union.

He maintained that they were compelled to halt the work after the administration ignored their 15-day ultimatum to provide their outstanding salaries.

General Manager, Binod Tiwari, however, said that the workers resorted to the closure of the industry even as they had been promising to pay the sum by July 20.