Even as TAMPCOL, the government of Tamil Nadu enterprise that supplies the bulk of Indian System of Medicine drugs is all set to expand its activities, a section of workers are unhappy about their remuneration.
About 65 workers, categorised pharmacy assistants, who are involved in the actual preparation of drugs, have threatened to go on a fast unto death to press for salary increase on a par with the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. They have all been summarily placed under a fixed basic pay of Rs.1,900.
“After all the deductions put together, we get to take only a maximum of Rs.3500 home,” U. Elumalai said, on behalf of all the workers. This, after having served in the company since 1985, he added. Ever since the factory shifted to Alappakkam, the transportation expenses for the workers have also gone up substantially.
TAMPCOL, which has been recording a steady growth in sales over the past four years, notched Rs.19 crore as the turnover for the year ending March 2010.
This resulted in a net profit of about Rs.224 lakh. During 2009-10, TAMPCOL, from its own reserves increased its share capital to Rs.100 lakh. Of the 48 public sector undertakings owned by the Government of Tamil Nadu, TAMPCOL has emerged as one of the four PSUs continuously declaring 100 per cent dividend, according to officials.
