Aluminium Utensil Workers in Madurai Strike Over Unpaid Diwali Bonus and Wage Hike

In Madurai district, aluminium utensil spinning manual labourers have been on strike for the past two days, demanding wage hikes and Deepawali bonuses as per a previous agreement with workshop owners.

According to a bilateral agreement signed last May between the aluminium utensil contract wage workshop manufacturers and the workers, a wage hike was to be provided once every two years, and a bonus given annually ahead of the Deepawali festival. Additionally, a practice of increasing the annual bonus by ₹1,000 had been followed; workers demanded this increase again this year as per the agreement.

However, the manufacturers did not fulfill this demand, leading workers to resort to strike action.

Workers stated that aluminium sheets are now much heavier than before, making the task of bending them to manufacture utensils more difficult. They claimed that due to the hard labour, three workers have died of heart attacks. Workers argued that while working under compulsion to produce a specific daily quantity, owners had previously agreed to the ₹1,000 bonus increase, but have now reneged on the agreement.

Talks are currently underway between both parties, and the strike continues with hope for an amicable solution. Workers urged that the wage hike be implemented immediately based on the agreement, and that the Diwali bonus be provided properly each year. They also plan to submit a petition to the Labour Welfare Office.

Chandrasekar, a member of the Aluminium Utensils Producers Association, said that in talks on Tuesday, they agreed to follow the norms as per the agreement signed on May 25, 2025. The next revision is due in 2028.