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The Star
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Business groups feeling the pinch
Red ink rising: Fuad (left) and Ravindran say many of their members are noting a drop in sales, especially in the last few weeks. JOHOR BARU: Public concerns over the possible impact of the looming United States tariff and the recent expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) are beginning to show tangible effects, according to business groups here. Johor Baru Bazaar Karat Development and Welfare Association president Fuad Rahmat said many of its members have noticed a drop in sales, especially in the last few weeks. 'While none of our members have gone as far as shutting down for good or scaling down their businesses, they are definitely affected. 'Business has not been good for a lot of traders, with some even saying that sales were worse than during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'While the expanded SST does not directly affect Bazaar Karat traders, it may contribute to lower sales as people are afraid to spend too much due to the uncertain impacts of the tax expansion and the coming US tariff,' he said. He added that business groups such as his would need to be creative to assist their members in offsetting the impact of the SST. 'We need to be proactive and come up with ideas to help attract more people to the bazaar. 'One of the initiatives we have taken up is giving customers coupons that they can use when shopping at the bazaar. 'We are also planning to come up with some events that may help bring in more visitors,' he said. Johor Baru Small Businesses Association chairman Tey Tian Hwang said some of its members were contemplating shutting down their businesses, but after a review, such sentiments have gone quiet for now. 'However, they have seen the number of customers dwindling, especially in the last week or two, as people try to avoid spending due to uncertainty about their financial future,' he said. He added that the government should consider looking at profit margin instead of turnover when deciding on the SST threshold. 'It may not be the best yardstick. There are many businesses that may have high revenue but because of increased operational costs, their profit margins are small,' he said. Meanwhile, Johor Indian Petty Traders and Small Business Association chairman D. Ravindran said its members have also started to feel the impact of the expanded SST. 'It has significantly impacted local retail operators, particularly small, medium and micro enterprises, which make up the majority of businesses here,' he said. 'For these businesses, especially in the logistics, services and retail sectors, these changes mean increased costs, new compliance and narrower profit margins.' He added that the 25% US tariff would worsen the situation as it would contribute to an increase in the prices of products exported to the United States. 'It will affect Malaysian Indians involved in businesses such as exporting spices, ready-to-eat food, and palm oil derivatives, as it makes the goods they export less competitive in the US market. 'This may potentially lead to a decrease in export volumes and prompt US companies to start looking for cheaper alternatives,' he said. The expanded SST, which took effect this month, now covers more goods and services with tax rates ranging from 5% to 10%. Separately, the US has also announced a 25% tariff on imports from Malaysia, which is expected to take effect next month.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Time of India
Whatever happened was consensual: Youth's counsel
1 2 Kolkata: The 26-year-old MBA second-year student, accused of raping a young psychologist on the B-school campus in Kolkata, has stressed before cops, counsel and his family that he was innocent and whatever happened was "consensual". "We believe the youth has been framed. Whatever the cops have now are only allegations made once by the woman. Majority of the facts mentioned in the complaint do not tally with the evidence the cops have collected so far, and the woman too hasn't come forward since then with more information and clarity in this case. Also, the woman's father has said no sexual assault happened. Hence, we believe the youth is innocent and have complete faith in the judiciary," said his counsel, Kanishk Ravindran, on Monday. The youth, who scored 99.7 percentile in data interpretation and logical reasoning in the CAT (Common Admission Test) in 2022, completed engineering from Bengaluru and was initially pursuing a PG course from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade before he dropped out and took admission at the Kolkata B-school in June 2024. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "He is a bright student. He stresses he is innocent but has gone into depression, concerned over his studies, exams, and the impact the arrest would have on his career. The case was presented in the same lines of the crimes at RG Kar Medical College and a law college in Kolkata. But this is an entirely different case. The student here met the woman on a dating app, and Friday was only the second time they were meeting. A thorough police investigation will prove that my client is innocent," Ravindran added.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Standoff in Tamil cinema disrupts several productions, High Court calls for mediation
A long-simmering conflict in the Tamil film industry, between producers and technicians, reached a crucial moment on Monday as the Madras High Court declined to issue interim relief against a non-cooperation protest launched by the technicians. In the conflict between the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), Justice K Kumaresh Babu, hearing a civil suit filed by TFPC against FEFSI, suggested that both parties recommend names of retired High Court judges who could be appointed as neutral mediators. The court has given until Wednesday for both sides to submit names. The producers had sought a stay on the FEFSI's protest, which has disrupted multiple ongoing film productions in the state. The FEFSI, an umbrella body representing 24 technicians' and film workers' unions, has been at loggerheads with the TFPC since the expiry of a three-year MoU on March 9. The MoU governed wages, working conditions, and cooperative norms between producers and technicians. In court, FEFSI's legal counsel, advocate G Mohanakrishnan, painted a stark picture of inequality in the Tamil film industry. 'Top actors are paid Rs 300 crore per movie, while technicians struggle to get even Rs 3,000 a day,' he argued, calling the situation untenable and exploitative. He further alleged that TFPC was attempting to undermine the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu-based technicians by importing workers from other states to continue film shoots stalled by the impasse. The producers' side, represented by advocate Krishna Ravindran, countered that TFPC comprises mainly small-budget filmmakers — not the few mega-budget producers driving exorbitant salaries for actors. He emphasised that TFPC had followed a consistent practice of signing MoUs with FEFSI every three years and was willing to renew the agreement, but was met with hostility and allegations instead. Central to the producers' grievance is the charge that FEFSI's protest has brought the industry to a standstill. 'Ongoing production works have been stalled, resulting in major financial losses,' said Ravindran. 'Technicians affiliated with FEFSI are refusing to cooperate, jeopardising the livelihood of hundreds of others involved in film projects,' he alleged. In April, the federation issued a circular to all its 23 affiliated unions, asking them not to cooperate with TFPC members. The move came after FEFSI accused TFPC of secretly backing a rival technicians' association — Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam — in what it believes is an effort to splinter the organised workforce. The producers deny any link to the new association. 'TFPC has no involvement in setting up any rival union,' said Ravindran. But he did acknowledge that the deadlock had pushed some producers to explore working with a separate body, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), as a workaround to continue stalled projects. As the impasse deepens, the Tamil Nadu government has taken note. Minister for Information and Publicity, M P Saminathan, is expected to step in to mediate talks, underlining the growing public and political pressure to resolve the conflict. In court, Justice Babu was firm in his observation that he could not compel FEFSI to resume work with TFPC, given that the binding MoU had lapsed. However, he did note that individual producers could pursue legal action if existing work agreements had been violated. He also expressed concern that both sides risk further erosion of goodwill and financial damage if the matter is not resolved swiftly. With both FEFSI and TFPC expected to submit their recommended names for a retired High Court judge to mediate, the coming week will be critical for whether this is going to be a step toward reconciliation or a deeper institutional rupture in Tamil cinema's labour landscape.
Hans India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
South Indian Film Employees' Federation moves Madras HC over underpayment to technicians
Chennai: The simmering dispute over wages for film technicians in Tamil Nadu reached the Madras High Court on Monday, with the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) alleging that technicians are being pushed to the margins even as leading actors earn up to Rs 300 crore per film. Appearing before Justice K. Kumaresh Babu, FEFSI counsel G. Mohanakrishnan accused members of the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) of trying to 'snatch the livelihood' of local technicians by recruiting crews from other States to finish ongoing productions. He said technicians in the State often earn less than Rs 3,000 a day despite the industry's soaring top-line salaries. TFPC's counsel Krishna Ravindran countered that most of the council's members are small-budget film-makers, not corporate studios, and insisted the producers are 'equally concerned' about worker welfare. He pointed out that TFPC and FEFSI have traditionally signed a wage-fixing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) every three years, the last of which, inked in 2022, expired on March 9 this year. According to Ravindran, relations deteriorated when FEFSI, suspecting TFPC of backing a breakaway technicians' body called the Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam, issued a non-cooperation directive on April 2 to all 23 of its affiliated craft unions. The order, he said, triggered walk-outs on sets and 'significant monetary losses' to producers as projects stalled. Ravindran added that FEFSI has since begun collaborating with a separate producers' faction, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), prompting the State's Information and Publicity Minister M. P. Saminathan to step in and convene talks. Justice Babu observed that, with the MoU no longer in force, the court could not compel FEFSI members to work on TFPC-backed films. At the same time, he noted that individual producers remained free to sue crew members for breach of existing work contracts, if any. Stressing the need for an amicable settlement, the judge urged both sides to nominate, by Wednesday (July 2), two retired High Court judges who could act as mediators. 'Given the tight production schedules and the livelihoods at stake, it is in everyone's interest to resolve this across the table,' Justice Babu said before adjourning the matter.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Actors paid ₹300 crore while technicians earn less than ₹3,000, FEFSI tells Madras High Court
Top actors are being paid ₹300 crore per movie, but technicians are not even paid ₹3,000 a day, the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) complained before the Madras High Court on Monday (June 30, 2025), while opposing a civil suit filed against it by the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC). Appearing before Justice K. Kumaresh Babu, advocate G. Mohanakrishnan, representing FEFSI, said, members of TFPC were also trying to 'snatch the livelihood' of technicians in Tamil Nadu by attempting to employ people from other States to complete ongoing projects. On the other hand, advocate Krishna Ravindran, representing TFPC, stated that a majority of the members of the council were small-budget moviemakers and not corporate filmmakers who make big-budget movies. He said, TFPC was equally concerned about the technicians. The counsel said, TFPC had been following the practice of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) once in three years with FEFSI with respect to the fixation of wages for technicians and also other service conditions. The last MoU, signed in 2022, ended on March 9, 2025. In the meantime, FEFSI suspected TFPC of having promoted a rival association of technicians named Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam, and issued a communication to all its 23 affiliated associations on April 2, 2025, asking them not to cooperate with the members of TFPC. Asserting that TFPC had nothing to do with the rival association of technicians, Mr. Ravindran said, ever since FEFSI issued the non-cooperation communication to its affiliated associations, the technicians were refusing to work for the ongoing film projects, thereby causing great monetary loss to the producers. Minister to hold talks He also said FEFSI had now begun to work with another body titled Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), and that the issue had become so serious that Minister for Information and Publicity M.P. Saminathan had decided to intervene and hold talks between the parties to resolve the impasse. After hearing both sides, Justice Babu made it clear that he could not compel the members of FEFSI to work with TFPC since the MoU had expired on March 9, 2025. At the same time, he warned that TFPC members could always initiate legal action against individual members of FEFSI for violation of work agreements. Therefore, he suggested it would be in the interest of both parties to resolve their differences across the table. The judge asked Mr. Mohanakrishnan and Mr. Ravindran to submit by Wednesday (July 2) a couple of names of retired judges of the High Court who could be appointed as a mediator.
