Impasse continues in the talks been held between trade unions and textile associations to chalk out a new wage pact for the knitwear workers in Tirupur cluster, though there was a slight progress during the negotiations on Thursday, sources said.
The previous four-year wage agreement, signed between various textile associations and trade unions, expired on January 30 this year.
On the day, representatives of textile associations agreed to relax their previous stance and put forward a suggestion to increase the basic wages of the workers by 18 per cent in the first year and enhance the wages by3 per cent in each of the three subsequent years.
The eight trade unions also then came down from their demand for a 100 per cent increase in the wages to 90 per cent.
“We have now asked for a 50 per cent increase in wages for the first year, 20 increase in second year and 10 per cent increase in each of the next two years,” said M. Chandran, State secretary of CITU.
Till the previous rounds, the textile unit owners were of the view that they would give a total of 24 per cent hike in wages spread over four years.
Tthe trade unions were adamant on the view that the increase in wages should be 100 per cent considering the inflation.
The next round of talks was slated to be held on March 24.
