Planters moot expert panel on tea labour

The matter would be raised at the Plantation Labour Committee meeting being convened on Saturday in the wake of agitation of workers in Munnar and various other places.

According to association secretary B.K. Ajith, an inter-ministerial meeting in 2013 had decided to appoint a committee but nothing happened on the ground.

APK is an umbrella organisation of planters and claims to represent 60 per cent of organised plantation sector in Kerala.

The association has pointed out that raising the wages of workers to Rs 500 was financially unviable for the plantation owners. “At present the production cost of tea is Rs 122/kg while the average price in Kochi market is Rs 84/kg. There is a gap of Rs 36 to Rs 38. At the moment apart from Rs 232 basic pay, the companies are also bearing other costs of workers taking the total daily spending on each worker to Rs 338/day,” he said.

The planters say while labour productivity is low, the wages are on the higher side compared to other states. All taxes including agri income, building, water, power tariff were high, they point out.

The association said the climate change especially in Wayanad district and Idukki had prolonged summers in these areas forcing planters to go for irrigation which added up to costs.

Ajith said the plantation owners were going to the meeting with a positive mind. “Plantation Labour Committee has been dealing with the wages and other issues of works since 1955 and is competent to discuss all aspects. We strongly believe that workers and trade unions will understand the ground reality,” he said.

The association has however stated that option of lock out was not on their agenda.