Kollam plantation workers in distress

Kollam: The plantation sector in the district has come to a grinding halt due to the uncertainties over the distribution of wages in the wake of demonetisation. The workers with the private plantations,  including tea and rubber,  along eastern Kollam are virtually starving  with several employers insisting on bank transaction for  salary payments. The government through an order issued on November 16 had instructed the plantation inspectors to resolve  the wage issues. However, several  plantation owners are yet to abide by the order.

“As per the order issued by the  chief secretary, the plantation inspectors in all districts can  file a pro forma with the district collectors demanding release of money through treasuries located nearest to the plantations. This is done after assessing the salary requirements of  each plantation by the plantation inspector based on the number of employees with it. However, many of the plantation owners are reluctant to implement the order,”  Mr S. Jayamohan, cashew corporation chairman who also serves as the plantation workers union secretary,  told DC.

The government has also warned of  action against the defaulters who fail to distribute wages to the employees. The district collector in coordination with the labour department and the police can take penal action against the erring plantations. The managements of Travancore Rubber & Tea and the Harrison’s Malayalam Limited have insisted on  bank accounts for all their workers, Mr. Jayamohan alleged. The majority of them from the plantations in Ambanadu lack bank accounts and the nearest bank is only at  Thenmala.  They will need two days’ leave  to travel to the bank and wait in the  long queues to open  the accounts, he said.