Tamil Nadu Hikes Tasmac Staff Salaries, Warns of Dismissal for Overcharging

CHENNAI — Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh announced a revised salary structure and additional welfare measures for contractual staffers employed at Tasmac liquor outlets across Tamil Nadu on Monday, while issuing a strict warning that workers caught overcharging customers would be dismissed.

Speaking in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, the minister detailed the second pay revision for Tasmac employees, which nearly doubles their monthly earnings. The wage hike aims to curb maximum retail price (MRP) violations by retail shop employees across the state.

Under the revised structure effective from September 1, supervisors will receive Rs 33,023 per month. Their pay had previously been increased from Rs 17,850 to Rs 22,313 in July. Salesmen, whose wages were raised from Rs 15,530 to Rs 19,413 last month, will now draw Rs 30,284 per month. Assistant salesmen will earn Rs 28,680 per month, up from the Rs 17,925 fixed in July and their earlier salary of Rs 14,340.

The pay revisions apply to 22,800 contractual workers across the Tasmac network. The workforce comprises 6,400 supervisors, 14,400 salesmen, and 2,000 assistant salesmen. The salary enhancement will entail an additional annual expenditure of Rs 486.90 crore for the state exchequer.

The announcement follows an earlier wage increase of up to 25 percent implemented in July after the TVK government assumed office. Minister Vignesh reiterated in the assembly that despite the substantial pay enhancement, any staff member continuing to indulge in MRP violations would face termination from service.