The Kerala Cabinet has approved a 'Munnar package' for striking plantation workers in the State, which incorporates a health insurance scheme and provision for housing.

While recommending the package to the State Government, the Cabinet also expressed itself in favour of an upward revision of wages in plantation sector.

This comes ahead of a scheduled meeting of the Plantation Labour Committee which had met thrice before but failed to arrive at an amicable settlement to the unrest across plantations in the State.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is expected to attend the meeting that begins in a short while from now.

Earlier bids had failed after the trade union leaders and the plantation managements could not agree on a minimum wage.

Most plantations have been lying closed for days together now. Sources said that the State Government is keen to bring about an early solution especially in view of the fast-approaching elections to local bodies.

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