Tasmac suspends hundreds of employees following liquor retail strikes

The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) has initiated widespread disciplinary action against employees following strikes that disrupted over 650 retail liquor outlets across Tamil Nadu. The corporation has issued show-cause notices to approximately 1,729 staff members and suspended hundreds of personnel, including 245 supervisors, to address unauthorized shop closures.

The agitation was triggered by the implementation of a revised retail management system. This new system introduces a mandatory 10 rupee environmental and social welfare cess on bottle sales, which is refundable upon the return of empty bottles, and requires digital transactions for purchases exceeding 1,000 rupees.

Employee unions are protesting the changes, citing operational strain and demanding additional billing manpower, barcode scanners, and automated bottle collection kiosks to manage the new requirements. State Prohibition and Excise Minister K. Vignesh warned that disruptions to state revenues and unauthorized closures will not be tolerated. Significant disciplinary actions were recorded in the Chennai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, and Madurai regions.