More than thirty Tasmac liquor shops across Kumarapalayam, Pallipalayam, Tiruchengode, and nearby areas in Namakkal district stayed shut on Tuesday. Employees closed the shops to protest their workload. They are tired of pasting stickers on liquor bottles under the empty bottle return scheme.
What is the empty bottle return scheme?
The empty bottle return scheme aims to protect the environment. Under this scheme, Tasmac charges an extra ten rupees on each bottle sold. Customers get this money back when they return the empty bottle. Tasmac employees must stick a special sticker on every returned bottle.
Why are employees protesting?
Trade unions say the sticker-pasting work has become a heavy burden for the staff. They suggested appointing separate employees just for this task. However, the Tasmac administration did not agree to this demand.
Following this disagreement, trade union members launched a protest. They also held talks with Tasmac officials on Tuesday. Sources indicate that officials have not yet made a decision on the employees' demand. The closure of shops highlights the ongoing dispute over workload management.
The protest disrupted liquor sales in these areas. Local residents noticed the shut shops throughout the day. Employees remain firm in their stance, seeking relief from the additional sticker work.
