KOZHIKODE:Labour Minister Shibu Baby John had to eat his words hours after he made a statement that providing a daily wage of Rs 500 to workers would bring the plantation sector to standstill. As the remark snowballed into a controversy drawing flak from trade union leaders and Leader of Opposition V S Achuthanandan, the minister backtracked from the statement.
“I have not said the daily wages for Munnar plantation workers could not be hiked to Rs 500. As a minister my wish is to provide maximum wages to them. Whatever wages that can be paid practically should be given,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a programme at Public Library here, on Tuesday. The minister had also stated that tea plantation sector is passing through a severe crisis and a serious approach is required to save it.
Shibu Baby John, made a statement criticising Achuthanandan, but softened the comments later in the day. “We will invite V S Achuthanandan to the plantation labour committee meet to be held on September 26,” he said.