The Telugu film industry heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday as the 18-day-long strike by workers of various crafts finally came to an end. The strike began when the Film Unions demanded a 30 percent wage hike, which producers strongly opposed. With no compromise in sight, shootings across Tollywood came to a standstill, creating uncertainty for ongoing and upcoming projects.
After several rounds of failed talks, today’s meeting at the office of the Labour Commissioner brought the breakthrough. The discussions, lasting over eight hours, involved senior producers, Federation leaders, and officials. With the intervention of the Telangana government, both sides reached a consensus.
The final settlement was fixed at a 22.5 percent wage hike. Workers earning below ₹20,000 per month will get their raise in three phases,15 percent in the first phase, 2.5 percent in the second, and 5 percent in the third. Those earning above ₹20,000 will see a phased hike of 7.5 percent, 5 percent, and 5 percent respectively.
Producers expressed gratitude to the government for facilitating the talks. Prominent producer Dil Raju thanked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who had urged all stakeholders to resolve the issue at the earliest. “This settlement ensures stability for workers and continuity for the industry,” he said.
With the dispute finally settled, film shootings will officially resume from tomorrow, bringing much-needed relief to thousands of workers and producers across Tollywood.
