20-06-2025
3.5 lakh plantation workers still receive only ₹2 per day as DA
As many as 3.5 lakh permanent plantation workers in the State are not receiving adequate Dearness Allowance (DA), according to a Right to Information (RTI) response. The response was given to an RTI petition filed by Karim Ibrahim from Munnar, a plantation worker.
According to the reply, there were 87 sections of workers included in the Minimum Wages Act, and only the plantation sector workers were receiving inadequate DA. The plantation workers are supposed to receive ₹87.40 per day as DA. 'However, now the plantation workers are receiving only ₹2 per day as DA whereas the average DA for the other 86 sectors is ₹87.40 per day,' said Mr. Ibrahim. 'For the past 50 years, the DA has not increased for the plantation sector,' he added.
To President
According to officials, the 3.5 lakh permanent workers from tea, coffee, cardamom, and rubber plantations are part of the plantation sector. 'We submitted a memorandum to the President of India demanding action to increase the DA, who then directed the State government to take steps for this. Based on the direction, the Labour Commissioner as well as the Minimum Wages Advisory Board recommended to raise the DA. However, the Plantation Labour Committee (PLC) meeting on May 15, 2024, decided against this,' he said.
'The PLC is not a statutory committee to make such a decision,' added Mr. Ibrahim.
According to workers, the PLC is the final body to make a decision regarding the DA for the plantation sector. 'Representatives of government, Labour Commissioners, trade union leaders, and plantation owners were included in the PLC committee. However, even the trade unions did not advocate for DA raise for the plantation workers,' he said.
Price index
Sources said that the Economics and Statistics department calculates the DA for plantation workers using a price index. The documents secured from the State Statistics department showed that the basic point based on which the plantation workers' DA is calculated increased from 400 to 3,659 points in the past three decades. However, this was not reflected in the DA, according to sources.
High Range Plantation Employees Union (INTUC) president Cyriac Thomas said that in every meeting, the INTUC demanded for a DA raise for the plantation workers in the State. 'We will continue the demand in the next PLC meeting as well,' said Mr. Thomas.
The plantation workers are planning to move the Kerala High Court regarding the issue.
