Responding to Chennai-based rapper Sofia Ashraf's viral video titled Kodiakanal Won't, HUL released a report which claimed that that their ex-employees weren't affected by its mercury factory.
The report on their website said: “The safety of our employees is our number one priority. We closed down the factory and launched an investigation into this matter after it arose in 2001. While extensive studies on the health of our former workers and the Kodaikanal environment have not found any evidence of harm, we continue to take this issue very seriously and it’s one we are keen to see resolved. We have been working hard to find a fair and mutually satisfactory resolution at the suggestion of the Madras High Court and have had more than ten meetings with our former employees’ representatives since 2014. However, achieving this will require all stakeholders – including employee representatives, NGOs and legal representatives – to get behind these efforts and agree on an outcome.”
The report also cited several studies that suggested that after the factory's closure various studies had been carried out which suggested that former employees didn't suffer from ill-health due to the nature of their work.
Activist Nityanand Jayaram however hit out at those claims and responded to Unilever's post on Facebook.
He replied to their post saying: “Point: Unilever claims that "Extensive studies have shown that there is no harm to workers. Counterpoint: Unilever fails to mention the findings of a Government of India report that was submitted to the Madras High Court. The multidisciplinary team constituted by the Ministry of Labour & Employment included occupational health experts and occupational safety engineers. Unlike earlier reports that were based on questionable secondary furnished only by the company, the Government of India report was based on expert investigation of the factory premises, and clinical diagnosis of exposed workers and their family members. This report claims: "Medical examination of the workers conducted during the field visit on 4-6th October 2011 by the Committee by medical personnel has revealed typical symptoms of mercury poisoning as evidenced by the witnesses presented during investigation.(Page 121) Report of GoI."
Uploaded on July 30, the video has already racked up 1.5 million views and noted by people around the world including Nicki Minaj, on whose song Anaconda, the original rap is based.
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