In Madurai district, aluminium utensil spinning manual labourers have been engaged in a strike for the past two days, demanding wage hikes and Deepawali bonuses as per their agreement.

According to a bilateral agreement made last May between the aluminium utensil contract wage workshop manufacturers and the workers, it was decided that a wage hike would be provided once in every two years, and a bonus be given annually ahead of the Deepawali festival.

Further, while a practice of providing a ₹1,000 increase in the annual bonus given to workers had been followed, workers have placed a demand with the workshop owners to provide the ₹1,000 bonus hike this year as well, based on the agreement.

However, as the manufacturers did not come forward to fulfill this demand, the workers have resorted to a strike.

Regarding this, the workers said that unlike before, aluminium sheets are currently not light but very heavy, making the task of bending them to manufacture utensils was a difficult job.

They stated that due to this hard labour, three workers have died of heart attacks.

They further argued that while working under the compulsion to produce a specific quantity of utensils daily, the workshop owners had previously agreed to the demand of providing a ₹1,000 increase in the annual bonus amount, but this situation had arisen as they are currently not acting according to the agreement.

They stated that talks are currently underway between both parties, and the strike continues with the hope that an amicable solution would be reached.

Moreover, keeping the welfare of the workers in mind, the workers have urged that the wage hike must be implemented immediately based on the bilateral agreement.

Also, the Diwali bonus amount must be provided properly every year, the actions of manufacturers violating the agreement must be dropped, and a petition insisting on the workers’ demands must be submitted to the Labour Welfare Office.

Chandrasekar, a member of the Aluminium utensils producers association, said, in the talks with the protesting workers on Tuesday, they have come to terms to follow the norms as per the agreement signed on May 25, 2026.  

“The next revision will be carried out in 2028 when it is due for the workers,” he added.