Chennai: The Tamil Nadu govt on Tuesday announced a nearly 25% salary hike for Tasmac employees, saying the move is aimed at addressing one of the reasons cited by staff for collecting ₹10 over and above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) at liquor outlets. It also warned that employees found overcharging customers would face strict disciplinary action, including dismissal.From next month, the monthly salary of assistant salesmen will increase from ₹14,030 to ₹17,925, salesmen from ₹15,530 to ₹19,413 and supervisors from ₹17,850 to ₹22,313. The revision will cost the state an additional ₹110.74 crore annually, taking the total salary outlay for Tasmac employees to ₹550.72 crore.Prohibition and excise minister K Vignesh said employees had repeatedly cited low wages, along with expenses such as unloading liquor cases, electricity charges and shop rentals, as reasons for collecting excess money from customers.The govt has also accepted the employees’ long-pending demand for Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) coverage. “They have been seeking ESI benefits for nearly 20 years. The chief minister has directed that the scheme be extended to them,” the minister said, adding that steps are also being taken to address issues relating to unloading charges, electricity bills and shop rentals.Vignesh said the govt would now strictly enforce MRP sales at Tasmac outlets. “Our intention is not to increase prices but to streamline the system. If liquor is sold above the MRP, strict action, including suspension and dismissal from service, will be taken. Our employees are important, but consumers are equally important,” he said. More than 40 employees have been suspended in the past two months for overcharging customers, he added.The minister also announced a two-month extension of licences for around 2,320 bars attached to Tasmac outlets, saying fresh tenders would be floated in 15 to 20 days and the process completed in another three to four weeks.He warned FL3 pub licence holders against serving alcohol to persons below 21 years of age, saying licences would be cancelled for violations. Vignesh added that the govt would step up awareness campaigns among school and college students on the ill-effects of alcohol and would not allow any single liquor brand to cartelise sales in the state. “It is challenging to bring a 50-year-old out of alcohol addiction. We will work on rehab but we will strictly focus on creating more awareness among youngsters including students,” the minister said.
