Tamil Nadu Doubles Wages for 22,877 Tasmac Contract Workers

Tamil Nadu Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh announced a major wage overhaul for contract workers at Tasmac liquor outlets on Monday, nearly doubling their monthly pay while issuing a stern warning against overcharging customers.

The wage revision, unveiled in the state assembly in Chennai, applies to 22,877 contractual workers across the state-run liquor retail network. The workforce comprises 6,473 supervisors, 14,379 salesmen, and 2,025 assistant salesmen. Alongside the pay increase, the government announced festival advances, uniform allowances, and a mandatory fixed weekly day off for the staff.

Under the revised structure effective from September 1, supervisors will draw a monthly salary of Rs 33,023. This marks the second pay increase for the contractual employees. Previously, Tasmac had raised wages by up to 25 percent in July, which took effect in August and lifted supervisors' pay from Rs 17,850 to Rs 22,313. With the latest revision, their compensation reaches Rs 33,023.

Assistant salesmen will see their monthly earnings rise to Rs 28,680. Their pay initially stood at Rs 14,340 before the first revision increased it to Rs 17,925, before now being raised to Rs 28,680 under the new pay scale.

Minister Vignesh stated that the substantial pay revisions will result in an additional expenditure of Rs 486.90 crore for the state government.

Addressing retail operations, the minister cautioned that the government will dismiss employees who continue to overcharge customers above the maximum retail price. Vignesh noted that the salary increases were introduced specifically as an effort to bring an end to the decades-old practice of charging extra for liquor bottles at retail outlets.