Kerala's Plantation Unions Ignite Major Protest Against Poabs Group Over 100-Day Lockout

A storm is brewing in Kerala's plantation sector as major trade unions, including the CITU, INTUC, AITUC, and BMS, have declared a massive, united protest against the Poabs Group. The flashpoint? A grueling 100-day lockout at the Haileyburia estate in Peerumade, leaving hundreds of workers in despair and financial ruin.

For over three months, the gates of the Haileyburia estate have remained shut, trapping workers in a cycle of uncertainty and unpaid dues.

This isn't just about a factory closure; it's a humanitarian crisis. Workers are reeling from the non-payment of long-pending wages, crucial bonus payments, and essential social security benefits like Provident Fund (PF), Employees' State Insurance (ESI), and even gratuity. Adding insult to injury, 14 workers, including respected union leaders, have reportedly faced illegal termination without due process or explanation.

The plight of these workers has not gone unnoticed.

For weeks, they have maintained an unwavering indefinite dharna outside the estate, their voices a constant plea for justice. Attempts by the Labour Department to mediate a resolution have, unfortunately, collapsed. Even interventions by the District Collector yielded no breakthroughs, leaving the workers and their unions with no option but to escalate their struggle.

In a powerful display of solidarity, the unions have formed a joint protest committee, vowing to amplify their demands.

Their collective fury is now set to descend upon the Poabs Group's head office in Kottayam, where a grand protest dharna has been planned. The message is clear and unequivocal: the estate must be reopened immediately, all outstanding financial dues must be settled without delay, and every illegally terminated worker must be reinstated to their rightful position.

The roots of this crisis trace back to when the Poabs Group acquired the Haileyburia estate from its previous owners, Bombay Burmah.

Hopes were high for a revival, but instead, production ground to a halt, wages ceased, and a once-thriving estate became a symbol of corporate neglect. This upcoming protest marks a critical turning point, as unions and workers stand united, determined to fight until their demands for justice and dignity are met.