The Tamil Nadu Labour Commisioner today assured to take up the issues being faced by the planters, particularly on labour front, and revival of a defunct Co-ordination Committee, set up to look after the issues concerning the industry.
Responding to various demands and appeals made at the 61st Annual Conference of Planters Association of Tamil Nadu (PAT), Labour Commissioner, P Amudha said she was convinced that the industry was paying the wages on time.
"But it is distressing to note that quality of welfare measures such as housing, hospital facilities and sanitation is still poor", she said.
However, she promised to consider at reducing the burden of the industry while asking them to provide qualitative relief to the workers.
Replying to a demand for the revival of a Coordination committee, consisting of secretaries of forest, labour and revenue departments for discussing various issues affecting the plantation industry, Amudha assured that she would revive the committee and conduct periodical meetings.
In his address, PAT chairman, T G B Pinto appealed for exempting daily rate workers from the purview of professional tax liability and to raise the current taxable income limit of Rs 21,000 per half year for the purpose of profession tax.
There was little scope for mechanising the operations of plantations located in high terrain and hilly regions, Pinto said, adding, the industry therefore was heavily dependent on labour.
