All plantation workers in Kerala will go on an indefinite strike from Monday after the Plantation Labour Committee meeting today failed to to arrive at a consensus regarding wage hike.
Representatives of various trade unions, who participated in the meeting convened by the state government, gave the strike call after the marathon talks failed to take a decision on hiking daily wages to Rs 500.
The Plantation managements, who have already stated that they would be unable to bear the Rs 500 daily wages, have sought more time for deliberating on the proposals put forth by the government on the wage hike.
The entire plantation sector, including rubber, coffee, cardamom, besides tea, is going through an unprecedented crisis and even a meagre hike in the present wage structure would further hit the industry, according to the managements.
Labour Minister Shibu Baby John told reporters that further talks would be held by the committee on September 29.
The Association of Planters of Kerala has been asked to come out with a formula to be presented before the PLC on Tuesday, he said.
The cabinet sub-committee would meet at 3 PM that day to discuss suggestions and proposals of today's meet after which the PLC,comprising representatives of trade unions,managements and government, would hold its next sitting at 4 PM.
An in-principle decision on improving living conditions of workers and bringing them under a comprehensive government insurance plan were among decisions taken today, John said.
Representatives of 'Pempilai Orumai' which had staged the unprecedented all-women tea plantation workers stir for nine days early this month, had come from Munnar, but did not attend the meeting as according to the Plantations labour Act,only registered trade unions can participate in the talks.
They met the Labour minister here this afternoon and later told media personnel that they were confident that there would be a positive outcome.
