CHENNAI: Prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh on Monday announced in the Tamil Nadu assembly the revised salary structure and other welfare steps for contractual staffers employed at Tasmac liquor shops and warned of dismissal if the workers continue to indulge in MRP violation.While Tasmac already announced a wage hike of up to 25% to supervisors, salesmen and assistant salesmen in July after TVK govt took over, minister Vignesh announced the second pay revision for Tasmac workers, nearly doubling their salary.Supervisors, whose salary was previously hiked from Rs 17,850 to Rs 22,313, will hereafter draw Rs 33,023 per month, effective from Sept 1. Similarly, salesmen whose salary was increased from Rs 15,530 to Rs 19,413 last month, will hereafter draw Rs 30,284. Also, assistant salesmen’s salary has been hiked from Rs 17,925 to Rs 28,680 per month. Their salary was Rs 14,340 till July.There are 22,800 contractual staffers in Tasmac including 6,400 supervisors, 14,400 salesmen and 2,000 assistant salesmen. It would cost an additional expenditure of Rs 486.90 crore, the minister said.Minister Vignesh informed the assembly that the salary revision was to curb the MRP violation committed by the workers at retail shops. “The MRP violation has been existing for nearly 23 years when Tasmac workers were drawing a salary of Rs 2,000. Tasmac has been collecting only a fine from workers for overcharging buyers up to Rs 9 per bottle. But hereafter even collecting one rupee above MRP will lead to suspension for up to three months, and second-time violation will result in dismissal of the personnel from service,” the minister warned.Vignesh announced a festival advance of Rs 20,000 for all the workers and said Rs 6,000 per year for three uniform sets. “Each shop will also get Rs 5,000 (corporations) for basic maintenance of the outlet, Rs 4,000 (municipalities) and Rs 3,000 for other areas,” the minister said.
