The plantation sector in Kerala appeared to be headed for an extended stasis after a day-long meeting of the Plantation Labour Committee here on Monday failed to find a solution to settle the eight-day strike by estate workers, despite the Chief Minister’s intervention.
The talks remained deadlocked on the wage hike issue, with both the trade unions and plantation owners adamant on their stance.
While Labour Minister Shibu Baby John maintained that there was progress in the talks, CPI leader E.S. Bijimol, MLA, said the government had failed to offer anything substantial to break the deadlock.
The Minister said the final decision on the workers’ demand for higher wages was expected at the next meeting of the PLC on Wednesday. “The discussions were positive; both sides have understood each other at today’s talks. The government will come up with concrete steps to end the strike on Wednesday.”
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed, and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala intermittently participated in the talks held at the Secretariat.
Chandy’s presence
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Ms.Bijimol said the strike by estate workers would go on.
“The Chief Minister’s presence at today’s meeting served no purpose. He had nothing to offer as a solution to break the impasse. No package deal was discussed. In this situation, the next round of discussions on Wednesday is not expected to yield results.”
The managements cited affordability and paying capacity of the industry to offer a maximum increase of Rs.25 in the basic pay, subject to an increase of 10 kg in the standard output.
The proposed hike, they said, would take the total wages to Rs.395 from the current amount of Rs.344.
The proposal, however, was unacceptable for the trade unions.
The Association of Planters of Kerala said the 10-day stir by workers had resulted in huge loss, plunging the industry into a deep crisis.
