The Tami Nadu government would take necessary steps to address the wage revision issue of striking powerloom weavers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, Minister for Handlooms and Textiles R.Gandhi told the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday .Replying to a Special Calling Attention motion given notice of AIADMK General
Secretary and by Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami seeking the Government’s immediate intervention as the weavers were on an indefinite strike since March 19, the Minister listed out the steps taken by the DMK regime after it came to power in May 2021 and promised to redres their grievances.
Intervening, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said the State government has clearly understood the importance of the issue and will take urgent steps to resolve the impasse.
Earlier, moving the motion,the AIADMK leader said about 1.5 lakh job working
powerloom units are operating on a wage basis in these two districts, and that since January 2024, they have been demanding an increase in wages.
With rising electricity tariffs, cost of living, and prices of spare parts, they are seeking a fair wage hike, Palaniswami said.
Noting that for the past few days, some of the weavers have resorted to an
indefinite fast, Mr Palaniswami said talks with the officials did not resolve the
issue and urged the state government to intervene, hold discussions with the striking weavers and resolve the wage revision issue.