The Hindu : Kerala News : Cardamom workers plan stir for more wages

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Monday, Aug 11, 2008
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Kerala

Cardamom workers plan stir for more wages

A Correspondent

KATTAPPANA: The action council formed by various trade unions in the cardamom plantations has announced to begin agitations demanding wage hike for both permanent and casual workers.

The leaders of the trade unions said on Sunday that the managements of the cardamom plantations were bringing in temporary labourers from Tamil Nadu, paying high wages, to meet the strike announced. If the managements decline to hike the wages of permanent and casual labours, strong agitation, including blocking of labourers from outside, will be launched, they said. Since the production and price of cardamom have increased, it is imperative to hike the wages too.

Though the government had issued a notification revising the wages in the sector, the managements’ association has moved the court and a decision is pending. Earlier, there was an agreement between the managements’ association and trade unions to revise wages every three years. However, since 2002, the managements’ association has backtracked from the agreement making life miserable for the labourers. Though the minimum wage norm is applicable in rubber plantations, no such practice exists in the coffee, cardamom and tea estates, they said.

The action council said that strong agitation would be launched if the managements failed to reach making an agreement with the trade unions on the issue.

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