Tamil Nadu21 Aug

TWAD contract labourers in Tenkasi, Tirunelveli demand direct wage payment

Approximately 300 contract labourers of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board in Tenkasi and Tirunelveli have asked the Chief Minister to ensure their wages are paid directly to their bank accounts. They allege a contractor-official nexus causes an annual wage shortfall of nearly Rs 90 crore for about 12,000 workers across the state.

Around 300 labourers working on Thamirabarani Combined Water Supply Schemes in Tenkasi and Tirunelveli districts have demanded that their monthly wages be credited directly to their bank accounts. According to the workers, most have been employed for over 15 years. They alleged that a contractor-official nexus causes a wage shortfall of nearly Rs 90 crore annually for roughly 12,000 contract labourers across the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board. They also said that while the minimum wage for the schemes is Rs 15,401, they are paid only between Rs 7,500 and Rs 9,000. The workers made the demand to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who now has direct purview over the Board, and they expect major reforms.

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