After a brief lull, yet another wave of labour unrest hit Gavi, a destination nestled within the Sabarimala forests, with a section of workers on Thursday accusing the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) of denying them the public holiday declared by the State government following the death of veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan.

According to the protesters, while workers affiliated with the Left party refrained from work, the remaining employees reported for duty on Tuesday despite the State-declared holiday.

However, KFDC officials clarified that the decision to allow work was based on the workers’ own request. “All our offices in Gavi remained closed in observance of the holiday. But when a section of workers approached seeking permission to work in the plantations, they were allowed to work,” said Raju K. Francis, Managing Director, KFDC.

The KFDC employs around 280 people in Gavi, overseeing ecotourism projects at both Gavi and Kochu Pampa, as well as cardamom plantations in the Meenar region.