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Cashew units at Palasa here resumed operations from Wednesday after the owners reached a settlement with the workers on wage hike.
The negotiations between the operators and workers had started on April 1. The operators have agreed to hike the wages by 32 per cent for women employees and 20 per cent for men, said Malla Srinivasa Rao, President, Palasa Cashew Manufacturers Association.
Each worker, at present, gets Rs 150-200 per day and this has been now hiked to Rs 200-260 per day. The workers were demanding a hike of 75 per cent .
There are about 200 processing units at Palasa and Kasibugga in Srikakulam district employing about 10,000 workers. Of this, 95 per cent comprises women. "Last year, we purchased cashew nuts from local farmers at Rs 85 per kg and now these are available at Rs 60-70 per kg. Though imported nuts are priced at Rs 60 per kg, local production is more," he said.
