40 SOCIAL SCIENTIST than the minimum wages enjoy a relatively larger profit margin. Further, the frequent lay-offs caused by the shortage of nuts has reduced the total annual earnings of the workers. There is, therefore, no meaning in the plea that higher wages are responsible for the collapse of the industry in Kerala. 1 Judgement in Original Petition No 4735 of 1975. The original petition challenged the government notification of 14 July 1975 revising the minimum wage of workers in the industry.