Puthiya Tamizhakam (PT) today urged Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to initiate a tripartite dialogue on the issue of fixing new wages and bonus for nearly five lakh workers working in various plantations across the State.

In the background of their counterparts in Kerala getting higher wages of Rs. 370 (Rs. 301 plus other benefits), as fixed recently, the workers in five plantation districts of Tamil Nadu, were getting only Rs. 220 for toiling hard in different climate conditions and also amid threat from wildlife, PT founder president and MLA, Dr.K. Krishnasamy told reporters here.

Stating that he had sent a letter to Jayalalithaa, highlighting the plight of the workers, Krishnasamy said that the Government should come forward and hold a tripartite meeting to fix a suitable wage pattern and also to provide 20 per cent bonus. This could be done after having a detailed discussion with the representatives of political parties, so that a conducive atmosphere was created during
the tripartite talks, representing workers’ unions, management and Labour Department, he said.

To a question on the recent raid in Kerala Bhavan in Delhi over beef menu, Krishnasamy condemned the incident, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence and warn those outfits, which were attempting to force their ideology on others.

Krishnasamy also wanted Tamil Nadu Government to appoint Vice-Chancellors to the seven universities that were lying vacant, of which two should be reserved for SC/ST, in a transparent
manner, without considering political motive.

He also urged the Government, in particular the Transport Department to take stringent
action against those private omnibus owners, who were charging five times the normal rates during holidays like Deepavali. The Government should announce the rates, so that people should know how they were being cheated by the bus operators, Krishnasamy said.