Over 30 Tasmac liquor shops remain closed in Namakkal district as employees protest workload due to empty bottle return scheme

NAMAKKAL: More than 30 Tasmac liquor shops in Kumarapalayam, Pallipalayam, Tiruchengode and surrounding areas in Namakkal district remained closed on Tuesday as employees protested workload of pasting stickers on liquor bottles under the empty bottle return scheme.The empty bottle return scheme is meant to protect the environment. Under the scheme, an additional Rs 10 is charged on each bottle sold. It will be refunded when the empty bottle is returned. Tasmac employees should stick a sticker on each bottle returned. Trade unions said the sticker-pasting work became a burden for them and suggested appointing separate employees, but the Tasmac administration did not agree. Following this, trade union members protested and held talks with the Tasmac officials on Tuesday. However, officials were yet to take a decision on employees’ demand, sources said.