ripartite discussions for settling the ongoing plantation agitation would continue on Wednesday as the fifth round of talks held failed to reach a settlement on Tuesday.
The Plantation Labour Committee (PLC), which held consultations for six hours, could not reach a consensus on the wage rate and hence decided to continue the talks on Wednesday morning.
Labour Minister Shibu Baby John and Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed, who held discussions with the plantation owners and trade unions, told reporters that there was considerable improvement and would reach a settlement on Wednesday.
Sources privy to the discussions told The Hindu here that the trade unions were willing to strike a reasonable agreement to end the agitation. The plantation owners were understood to have proposed to offer a Rs.50-hike so that the daily wages would go up to Rs.282.
In addition to this are the 40 per cent allied benefits given to the labourers. They were also understood to have offered a staggered hike of Rs.10 per year so that the overall hike within the next two years would touch Rs.300.
The union leaders reportedly turned down the proposal for a telescopic increase. The plantation owners favoured a productivity-linked hike and also said that the cost to company on hiking the wages too should be considered while demanding the revision.
They had also pointed out that the loss due to the agitation had touched Rs.150 crore.
Compared to the previous round of discussions, there was considerable progress in the marathon talks on Tuesday.
A fast called by the joint action council of trade unions comprising the CITU, INTUC and the AITUC, among others, in front of the Secretariat on Wednesday has been put off for a day in the wake of the continuing discussions. If the talks fail to reach an agreement on Wednesday, the leaders would go on fast.
the loss due to the agitation has touched Rs.150 crore.
Labour Minister hopeful of settlement
Action council defers fast plan
