Women workers on warpath at HML

Buoyed by the success of their counterparts in Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP), women workers in estates controlled by Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) in Idukki have launched an agitation seeking 20 per cent bonus and higher wages.

Around 900 women workers from five divisions of HML began a sit-in in front of the offices of the company on Tuesday, which continued on Wednesday, with the threat to intensify their dawn-to-dusk sit-in into an indefinite occupation of the roads leading to the company’s offices as had been done by their counterparts at Munnar.

Again as in Munnar, the women workers chose to organise the stir all by themselves, keeping out the established trade unions.

However, unlike in Munnar, the joint action council of trade unions has declared full support for the agitation.

The HML management held one round of discussion with the workers, but the talks did not lead to any breakthrough as the management was not ready to increase the bonus amount as sought by the workers.

The company had paid the workers only the minimum bonus.

The stir began at the Upper Suryanelli estate, but soon spread to areas such as Pooppara, Anayirankal and Panniar.

The women workers have declared that they would not compromise on anything less than 20 per cent bonus and a daily wage of Rs. 500.

Meanwhile, an official press note in the State capital said Labour Commissioner K. Biju would hold discussions with the workers’ representatives on the bonus issue on September 22.