The 52-day-old strike by contract workmen of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation was called off after a wage agreement was reached at marathon talks mediated by Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner K. Kandasamy in Chennai on Friday.
After they came to know of the news, the workers reported for duty from 10 p.m.
The revised wages have been fixed in four slabs (with the expiring wages in brackets): unskilled-Rs. 480 a day (Rs. 370); semi-skilled-Rs. 500 (Rs. 379); skilled-Rs. 515 (Rs. 388); and highly skilled-Rs. 525 (Rs. 397).
Two instalments
The increased wages (the difference between the existing and new wages) would be paid in two instalments: 50 per cent on November 1; and the rest on November 1, 2015.
Besides, the workmen would be entitled to a bonus of Rs. 3,500, an ex-gratia of Rs. 3,000 and a one-time payment of Rs. 3,500 which is a sort of compensation for the strike period.
