Govt accepts demands of Aarlam farm workers

Kerala governnment today decided to accept the demand of Aarlam farm workers, on a strike since Monday, that they be paid salary on par with their counterparts in other state-owned farms.
The state cabinet took a decision in this regard. It also decided to regularise the casual tribal workers who have completed the mandatory 240 days, Information Minister K C Joseph told reporters here.
The salary will be fixed as per grade, salary scale and experience from January 1 this year, he said adding the other demands would be looked into by the Finance department.
The three-day old strike at the Aarlam farm, managed by a public sector undertaking for tribals resettled in Kannur district, had been called by the Joint action committee of three farm workers unions-- CITU, INTUC and AITUC.

The state has been witnessing a series of protests by planation workers this month starting with the agitation by women tea pluckers of Kannan Devan Hills Plantation company in Idduki district demanding higher wages, which ended in a success.
The cabinet also decided to give its nod to hike salaries of the government pleaders in the Kerala High Court.