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Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), a representative body for the cement makers in India, has signed a revised wage settlement agreement with employees.
As per the settlement, an additional Rs 6,000 would be given to cement workers in two instalments of Rs 3,000 each in April 2014 and September 2016, which translates to 33% hike in salary. It also provides for enhanced Dearness Allowance. The arrears for 16 months will be paid in two instalments.
The settlement is for four years from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2018 and was reached at the end of last month after meetings between CMA and trade unions.
The settlement is for four years from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2018 and was reached at the end of last month after meetings between CMA and trade unions.
CMA represents 20 cement companies in India. The companies, with 85 units, cover around 66% of the total annual cement production capacity in the country (189 million tonne out of total 285 million tonne).
After two arbitration awards in 1978 and 1982, the cement industry has been signing 12 (3) settlements under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 at the conclusion of bilateral negotiations with the National Federation of Trade Unions (INTUC, BMS, AITUC, HMS, CITU and LPF), representing cement workers across the country.
N Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman & MD, India Cements, who led the negotiations on behalf of CMA, said, "The current settlement is unique in today’s scenario since it is perhaps the only nation-wide settlement reached for workers of a major organised industry in the private sector.”
He added that despite difficult conditions being faced by the industry, due to subdued demand and lower capacity utilisation, it was agreed to implement the wage revision in the overall interest of workers.
