As this year’s Diwali festival is going to be celebrated on October 24, activities related to giving bonus have started in industrial companies in Coimbatore.
Diwali festival usually increases the expectation of getting bonus among the workers. They plan not only to buy new products, sweets and crackers but also to buy household appliances.
With one month left for this year’s Diwali festival, activities related to it have started in industrial companies.
Thirunnanam, President of Coimbatore Small Industries Association (Codicea), said, “Small industries in Coimbatore are facing a crisis due to GST, raw materials, property tax, electricity charges etc.
In such a situation, we believe that most of the small business companies will take action to give 8.33 percent bonus this year. Without workers there are no companies.
Therefore, steps will be taken to provide fair bonus in the interest of the workers, regardless of the crisis faced by the entrepreneurs,” he said.
According to James, president of Tamil Nadu Industry and Small Entrepreneurs Association (DACT), “Small entrepreneurs are suffering from various crises and many companies have been forced to close down.
The crisis is increasing day by day. Bonuses will be paid to the workers working in the micro-enterprises who have taken loans. 8.33 percent will be given in most of the companies,” he said.
State Secretary of HMS Union Rajamani said: In today’s situation, spinning mills, power mills, engineering and manufacturing companies should give 20 percent more than the bonus amount given last year for Diwali festival.
Only then can the livelihood of workers be protected. The prices of all essential commodities including cooking gas, vegetables, petrol, diesel are continuously increasing.
In such a situation bonus payment should be reasonable. Entrepreneurs cite many reasons including GST, electricity bills, rising prices of raw materials.
But these have nothing to do with the workers. Entrepreneurs should request solutions to the above mentioned issues from the Central and State Governments.
The workers working in 7 NTC mills in Tamil Nadu were not given bonus in the last years 2020 and 2021.
NTC should give 8.33 percent bonus this year considering the livelihood of the workers. He said this.