Chennai, Oct 28:
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday announced Diwali bonus and ex-gratia payments of up to 20 per cent for eligible Group C and Group D employees of Tamil Nadu government public sector undertakings for the financial year 2025-26.
The announcement is expected to benefit 2,60,497 workers, with the government allocating Rs 367.20 crore for the payments. The measure is intended to help employees celebrate Diwali and recognise their contribution to the functioning of public sector institutions.
Employees of profit-making public sector undertakings and specified organisations, including electricity distribution companies, State transport corporations, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and the milk producers’ cooperative federation, will receive a combined bonus and ex-gratia payment of up to 20 per cent.
Employees of undertakings without distributable surplus will receive a combined payment of 10 per cent. Eligible employees of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board will receive 8.33 per cent as bonus and 1.67 per cent as ex-gratia, taking the total to 10 per cent. Employees of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board will receive an 8.33 per cent bonus.
The government has also relaxed the salary limits for eligibility and bonus calculations. Temporary workers of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation will receive an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3,000. Separate orders will be issued for employees of cooperative societies and other institutions.