Tamil Nadu approves 25% pay hike for Tasmac staff

The Tamil Nadu government has approved a 25 percent salary increase for over 23,000 employees of the state-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac), effective next month. The announcement, made by Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh on Tuesday, July 7, was coupled with a stern warning that employees caught selling liquor above the maximum retail price would face dismissal for repeated violations.

The wage revision, approved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, marks the most substantial increase for Tasmac staff in years. According to the minister, previous hikes were typically around 500 to 2,000 rupees, whereas this revision will see monthly salaries rise significantly. Assistant salesmen will now earn 17,925 rupees, up from 14,340 rupees; salesmen will receive 19,413 rupees, up from 15,530 rupees; and supervisors will get 22,313 rupees, up from 17,850 rupees. The increase will impose an additional annual burden of approximately 110.74 crore rupees on the state exchequer, bringing total annual salary expenditure to about 553.72 crore rupees.

Minister Vignesh framed the raise as a measure to curb corruption, specifically the long-standing practice of employees...