Veteran actor Chiranjeevi has expressed his appreciation for Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao after a landmark agreement was reached on the wage hike for film workers. Sharing his thoughts on social media, Chiranjeevi said the CM’s intervention resolved a complex industry issue in a fair manner benefiting both producers and workers. He added that the government’s efforts to develop the Telugu film industry and transform Hyderabad into a hub for national and international cinema are commendable.
Film workers had gone on strike on August 4, demanding a 30 percent wage increase. Despite several rounds of discussions between the Federation and the Film Chamber, no resolution was achieved, prompting intervention by the Labour Department. Following guidance from the CM and senior officials, the dispute was finally resolved through the Film Chamber, with producers setting four conditions regarding the workers.
Under the agreement, workers will receive a 22.5 percent wage hike. Those earning up to Rs. 2,000 will get a 15% increase in the first year, 2.5% in the second year, and 5% in the third year. Workers earning between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 5,000 will receive 7.5%, 5%, and 5% over the three years, respectively.