TASMAC proposes regularisation of 23,000 contract workers, salary hike from Aug 2026

Chennai, Jul 7 (PTI) The state-owned TASMAC, a monopoly in selling liquor in Tamil Nadu, has proposed to regularise the services of over 23,000 contract workers employed at its retail outlets, with a salary hike. Speaking to reporters at the State Secretariat, K Vignesh, Minister for Prohibition and Excise, said the salary hike will come into effect from August 2026. Without disclosing the salary increment figures, the minister said the hike will be based on the work involved in the department concerned. To a question on MRP violations at the retail outlets, Vignesh said strict action will be taken against those charging more than MRP. "So far, more than 40 staff involved in MRP violations have been suspended," he added. The minister said the wage increment for liquor outlet staff would help reduce MRP violations. The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation has 38 district offices, 43 Indian-made foreign liquor depots, about 4,100 retail vending shops and 2,400 bars attached to the retail vending shops, according to TASMAC sources here. TASMAC sources further said a comprehensive proposal for a structural revamp is being placed before its board of directors. The proposed reforms include a substantial salary hike and an extension of the retirement age to 60. "The salary hike will help the contract workers realise their decades-old demand and dream of getting their services regularised. They were recruited as contract staff when the state took over retail liquor sales back in 2003," a senior TASMAC official said. The contract workers are currently managing with what they consider "meagre wages" — shop supervisors get a consolidated salary of Rs 17,800 per month, salesmen get Rs 15,300 per month, and assistant salesmen receive Rs 14,300 every month. Welcoming the move, D Dhanasekaran, General Secretary of the TN TASMAC Employees Union, said, "In the past, we have sent several requests to the government to increase the salary of the staff and regularise our services on a par with state government employees. The new proposal will bring huge relief to the staff." PTI SNR SSK