TNPL contract workers' indefinite strike enters fourth day over wage, regularisation demands
An indefinite strike by contract workers at Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Paper Ltd's (TNPL) Mondipalli plant entered its fourth day on Thursday, with nearly 700 of the facility's 2,500 contract employees participating. About half of the striking workers are women, who have been staging a round-the-clock protest at the site.
The workers, employed by approximately 45 contractors that undertake outsourced work for TNPL, are demanding regularisation of service, pay revision, and implementation of minimum wages. Many have been working since the plant began operations in 2016 and report receiving only ₹600 per day for an average of 21 days of work per month, with no wage increase in two years. Some also allege that contractors have failed to remit Provident Fund and Employee State Insurance contributions.
“I joined about nine years ago, but we have no guarantee of being called for duty tomorrow. We do not even get a paid weekly off,” said a worker on condition of anonymity. Another worker, R. Kalaivanan, stated, “Many have put in 10 years but do not appear on TNPL's payroll. We are not recognised as TNPL employees.”
The protesters are also calling for earned leave, house rent allowance, and conveyance benefits. They insist that the District Collector visit the site to hold talks. Officials, including the Revenue Divisional Officer of Srirangam, have met the agitators and promised to take their demands to the government, but the workers have said they will continue the agitation until their demands are met.
