Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday ordered payment of interim relief to employees of public sector and co-operative sugar mills.
The interim relief would be based on the wage hike worked out for employees of the private sugar mills and as an interim relief, 90 per cent of what was due to the workers would be paid in one instalment. The hike would take retrospective effect from July 1, 2010. On the new wage settlement coming into effect, the interim payment would be adjusted towards arrears.
In the wake of the decision on interim relief, the amount of financial outgo would be Rs. 10.99 crore, which would be distributed to 5,977 employees.
The employees had represented to the government that they should be given interim relief on the lines of wage settlement for workers of the private sugar mills as some cases in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court would take time for resolution. Deputy Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, who examined their demand, had advised the Sugar Commissioner to send a proposal to the government, indicating 90 per cent interim relief payment.
