Planters to approach court if 'impractical' wage hike imposed

Amid rising demand for wage hike in plantation sector across the state, the Association of Planters of Kerala today said they would approach court if an "impractical" wage hike is imposed on them by the government and trade unions.
The wages in the sector should be linked to productivity and demand for the product in the market, C Vinayaraghavan, the chairman of the umbrella organisation of planters, told reporters here.
He was speaking in view of the Plantation Labour Committee (PLC), comprising representatives of managements and trade unions, planning to meet tomorrow.
The entire plantation sector, including that of rubber, coffee, cardamom besides tea, is going through unprecedented crisis these days and even a meagre hike in the present wage structure would lead the industry into a lockout, he said.

"We are not against labourers and we do not want to fight with anybody. But, we have no other way than approaching court or looking for other options if the government and trade unions stick to the demand of wage hike in tomorrow's PLC meeting," he said.
Tea estate workers earn Rs 338.39, including statutory benefits, as daily wages in the state plantations, he added.

"Compared to other states in the country, plantation labourers are getting highest wages in Kerala even though the output is low and tax is high here. The demand of labourers to raise the minimum wages to Rs 500 is not viable," he said.

The price of tea dropped to Rs 84 per kg from Rs 107 kg last year and the demand of tea from the state is low in the domestic and international market, he added.
Vinayaraghavan also requested the government to bear the social cost, including housing, education and medical expenses of plantation workers, which cause a huge burden to the estate management.