Plantation workers to get revised wages from this month

Thiruvananthapuram: The increase in wages of plantations workers, negotiated at the earlier meeting of the Plantation Labour Committee, will be implemented from this month.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Committee this evening where the government took the stand that any move by the owners of the plantation to renege on earlier decision will not be countenanced.

However, it was decided that retrospective effect for the wage hike would be discussed and decided after the companies have paid out the revised wages.  Issues such as payment of bonus and minimum quantity of tea to be harvested by workers too will be taken up for decision later.

Labour Minister Shibhu Baby John said that the both the planters and workers had agreed to the decision. The decision taken at the last meeting of the Committee was to raise the minimum daily wages of tea, rubber and cardamom plantations workers to Rs. 301, Rs. 381 and Rs. 330 respectively.