POABS group gives one month pending salary to plantation workers

After withdrawing the lockout in Haileyburia Tea Estates, Peerumade Hills, another plantation - the POABS group in Vandiperiyar in Idukki, distributed a month’s pending salary to workers at the tea plantations.

According to High Range Plantation Employees Union (INTUC) president Cyriac Thomas, “Before Onam, the group distributed one month’s salary to the workers, providing relief to them. A meeting will be held soon to discuss the salary and other benefits-related issues in the POABS group.”

Last week, the INTUC-affiliated High Range Plantation Employees Union (HRPEU) and Kerala Plantation Workers Union (KPWU) called for protests against the group, demanding the immediate distribution of pending salary and other benefits.

Ouseph K.D., Manager HR & IR, POABS Enterprises Private Limited, said that “the company spent ₹85 lakh on the distribution of a month’s salary. The company acknowledges recent concerns regarding delays in payments at our tea estate. Unauthorised absenteeism rates of up to 80% in the estates have significantly reduced productivity, resulting in delayed harvesting and compromised leaf quality. Unauthorised strikes have severely disrupted day-to-day operations. The resistance to mechanised harvesting has hampered efficiency and cost optimisation.”

 However, Mr. Thomas said that due to the months-long salary delay, the workers are forced to search for other jobs to manage their needs. Without ensuring proper salary distribution, the plantation unions cannot direct the workers to ensure full attendance.