The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Plantation workers hail wage announcement

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Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Plantation workers hail wage announcement

Staff Reporter

VALPARAI: Plantation workers welcomed the Government’s draft notification fixing Rs.101.50 as daily minimum wage for tea estate workers in the State by bursting crackers, dancing on the streets and distributing sweets here on Tuesday.

The Government on Monday notified the draft wage following failed talks between plantation managements and trade unions after 17 rounds of talks for the last several months.

It was a decade ago that the Government made a notification. At present, the plantation workers of Valparai receive a minimum wage of Rs.79.85 a day.

According to the draft notification, the Government will elicit views of the stakeholders in the next 60 days and then a final notification would be made. Valparai MLA Kovai Thangam, who spearheaded workers’ cause, termed the draft notification a great victory for workers. Thanking the Government for trying to help the poor workers, he said the managements did not heed to the genuine demand by the workers. Despite several rounds of talks the managements agreed to give a daily wage of Rs.86, which he said too low.

Former DMK MLA and president of Joint Agitation Committee of Trade Unions, V.P. Singaravelu said it was a historic victory of plantation workers in the State after series of struggles.

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