POABS Group Clears One Month’s Pending Salary for Plantation Workers

Fast Summary:

• The POABS group in Vandiperiyar, Idukki, distributed one month’s pending salary to workers at its tea plantations before the Onam festival.
• ₹85 lakh was spent by the company for distributing the salaries, as confirmed by its Manager HR & IR.
• Payment delays were attributed to unauthorised absenteeism, strikes, and resistance to mechanised harvesting that hampered productivity and efficiency.
• Workers unions such as INTUC-affiliated High Range Plantation Employees Union (HRPEU) and Kerala Plantation workers Union (KPWU) protested last week demanding immediate payment of salaries and other benefits.
• Cyriac Thomas (INTUC president) stated that delays have forced workers to seek alternative jobs due to financial constraints.He emphasized the need for consistent salary payments to ensure worker attendance on plantations.

Indian Opinion analysis:

the resolution of pending salary payments in Vandiperiyar tea estates signals a critical step towards alleviating labor unrest within Kerala’s plantation sector.The ₹85-lakh payment reflects corporate acknowledgment of worker grievances but also highlights deeper structural challenges impacting operations – such as absenteeism, ongoing strikes, and debates over mechanization. While this payout temporarily relieves workers ahead of Onam festivities, sustained dialog between unions and employers seems essential for addressing broader issues like attendance rates and modernizing harvesting practices without compromising livelihoods.

the plantation sector remains integral to kerala’s agrarian economy; however,persistent labor-management tensions may hamper productivity further unless systemic solutions are approached collaboratively. Restoring trust through timely wages can definitely help stabilize workforce participation but requires balancing innovation with fair compensation strategies.

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