CHENNAI: Formal discussions on revising the wage structure of employees working in fair price shops run by cooperative institutions across Tamil Nadu were held on Friday at the office of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Kilpauk here.

The meeting, chaired by Additional Registrar of Cooperative Societies M Veerappan, focused on fixing a new pay structure for salespersons and packers employed in fair price shops operated by cooperative societies. Representatives of various trade unions and fair price shop employees’ associations participated in the deliberations and placed their long-pending demands before the authorities.

During the talks, union representatives submitted detailed memoranda seeking a comprehensive revision of wages, citing rising living costs and increased workload. A key demand reiterated at the meeting was the creation of a separate department exclusively for the Public Distribution System (PDS), which unions argue would ensure better administration, accountability and service conditions for employees.

Trade unions have, for several months, been pressing the government for a salary hike and structural reforms in the functioning of fair price shops. They have also highlighted disparities in pay and service benefits compared to other government-supported sectors.

Officials said a 10-member committee, headed by Additional Registrar Veerappan, had already been constituted earlier to examine the issue of wage revision for fair price shop employees. The committee’s mandate includes assessing existing pay scales, studying workload patterns and evaluating feasible financial models for implementing a revised wage structure.

At the meeting, the committee sought inputs and suggestions from union representatives to factor their concerns into its assessment. Officials indicated that the feedback received would be consolidated and placed before the government for further consideration.

Sources said that after examining the representations submitted by the trade unions, the next course of action would be decided by the State government, including whether a revised wage framework can be implemented and the timeline for the same.