 "Wage revision for Kerala tea plantation workers still stuck in limbo")
The Kerala government cleared a package for tea plantation workers on Wednesday. This includes raising the daily wage from Rs 232 to Rs 350 and introducing health insurance for workers. The state government will also help with repairs of workers’ quarters in plantations.
The decision was based on the report by a committee, which was set up after workers launched agitation across tea plantations in the state.
However, the state government’s decision failed to enthuse plantation workers, who have decided to intensify their ongoing strike. They are demanding a minimum daily wage of Rs 500. Following the state government’s decision, Plantation Labour Committee (PLC) met in Thiruvananthapuram. Labour minister Shibu Baby John suggested awarding an interim relief, but the trade unions did not accept it. The minister said further action would be taken after consulting chief minister Oommen Chandy.
The next PLC meeting is scheduled for November 9 as the local body election process is on now. B K Ajith, secretary, Association of Planters of Kerala, told Business Standard that the plantation owners were ready to accept the interim relief, but trade unions rejected. Trade union leaders said they would start a hunger strike from Thursday onwards in Munnar.
