Kerala - Kollam   

INTUC to launch stir for cashew workers

Staff Reporter

KOLLAM: State president of INTUC, K. Suresh Babu, has called for a probe into the wealth of trade union leaders associated with the cashew sector. At a press conference here on Tuesday, he said it is a fact that while the condition of the cashew workers have not in any way improved over the years, the trade unions leaders associated with the industry have become rich.

Mr. Suresh Babu said the public sector Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation appeared to be a centre of corruption. In the latest incident in this connection, not only was the raw cashew consignment from Ivory Coast purchased at a higher rate than the prevailing market rate, the nuts were of low quality. The deal shows an out turn of 47 pounds for every sack containing 80 kg raw nuts. But the cutting test showed only an out turn of 44 pounds.

In order to hide this fact, the company managed a bogus cutting test certificate showing an out turn of 48 pounds, he alleged. The cutting test for the purpose was done locally, he said.

In protest against the failure of the Government to implement the revised minimum wages for the cashew workers, the INTUC will be launching a major agitation, he said. It will hold demonstrations in front of cashew factories on October 30.

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