The AIADMK government headed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has taken swift actions to end unrest among work force of various sectors and has ensured industrial peace across Tamil Nadu. This was one of the primary reasons for many industrial houses making a beeline to the State with huge investments.
During the year 2011-12, on instructions from the CM, the conciliation officers of the Labour Department resolved 4,348 disputes including strike by nurses in leading hospitals in the Chennai, strike by 7,000 power loom owners and workers in Sankarankoil taluk of Tirunelveli district, strike by one lakh power loom owners and workers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, wage revision for one lakh hosiery workers in Tiruppur district and 46 strikes and nine lockouts in various industries.
Maintenance of industrial peace is essential for achieving the objectives of growth and prosperity. Progressive management and responsible labour behaviour are the prerequisites for harmonious industrial relations. Close collaboration at all levels between the employer and the employees are a prerequisite for increased productivity, quality enhancement and cost effective production of goods and services.
One of the significant achievements of the AIADMK government during its first year was resolving the Tiruppur dyeing units issue which was dragging on for a few decades. The CM took proactive steps to end the impasse in Tiruppur where the livelihood of lakhs of workers depended on dyeing units.
The Tamil Nadu Co-operative Handloom Weavers Family Pension Scheme was introduced on January 1, 1992 during the previous tenure of Jayalalithaa as the Chief Minister of the State. Under the scheme, if a worker faces death or disability before attaining the age of 60, their kin would receive a monthly pension of `550 for a period of 10 years.
After assuming the office of the Chief Minister for the third term, Jaya hiked the monthly pension from `500 to `1,000 for those workers who had registered themselves with various welfare boards. A total of 11,062 workers aged above 60 and registered under the welfare boards for manual workers, autorickshaw and taxi drivers, laundry workers, hairdressers, tailoring workers, handicraft workers, palm tree workers and workers of shops and establishments have been benefited by the CM’s announcement.