: The Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has demanded fair wages for plantation workers in proportion to the pricing of the product at the consumer end. The pro-Congress trade union has also called for an end to the practice of auctions as the basis of fixing prices of commodities.
The INTUC’s stand assumes significance in the context of the ongoing agitation by plantation workers seeking higher wages. A resolution adopted at a two-day INTUC State leadership camp, organised at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development Studies, near Neyyar Dam, some 25 km from here, said the condition of plantation workers was pathetic. “The sector was one of the earliest to be covered by labour laws in order to ensure transparency and labour welfare. But over the years, these labour laws have been gradually flouted, leading to direct exploitation of workers. Most of the plantation produce are essential commodities. But the consumer has to pay a higher cost for it. All sections of employees in the plantations sector, except labourers have adequate safety net, with a decent lifestyle. The market competition had gone against the interests of the workers and the benefits of various Central packages were out of bounds to them. The resolution urged the government to take strong action against erring estate owners, besides implementing the 1951 plantation labour laws and the ESI scheme in the plantation sector.
Congress Working Committee member A.K. Antony inaugurated the camp.
INTUC State president R. Chandrasekharan said the 53 crore-strong organised workforce was not getting its due share in the GDP growth.
