'Interim wage hike' for tea workers sought

SNS, DARJEELING, 11 DECEMBER: Himalayan Plantation Workers' Union, the trade union of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), today said that the government should implement an 'interim wage hike' for tea garden workers in the hills until it implements the Minimum Wages Act in the plantations. 

Our main focus is on the issue of minimum wages to be implemented in the tea gardens here, but that has not taken place till now, and we will continue our programmes for that, but we feel that until that is done, the government should give an interim wage above Rs 200 to the workers," HPWU general secretary JB Tamang said.

The wages were hiked in 2014, and tea garden workers were given Rs 32.50 per day up from the Rs 90 they used to get earlier. Negotiations,  for the wage hike usually start in February every three years, while the agreement is implemented in April. However, this time around, with talks going on for the implementation of the minimum wages, no wage negotiation has taken place till now.

"A meeting has been called by the government in Siliguri for interim wages in the tea gardens on the 22nd of this month, and we will attend the same and take up the issue," said Mr Tamang. 

Apart from the minimum wages, the HPWU also demanded land documents for the tea workers.

On the other hand, the Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) has also been saying that they also plan to hold public meeting in Darjeeling before 20 December regarding all of their demands.

In a memorandum submitted to the ALC, the HPWU has also demanded that the second installment of the puja bonus for the year 2016-2017 should be paid as soon as possible with some tea gardens here not having paid the first installment also.They have also demanded ration and wages for the 104-day Hill shutdown period.

The HPWU has further demanded that the tea garden management construct houses for tea workers, while also issuing no-objection certificates to beneficiaries so that government housing schemes can be implemented.

"We will go step-wise regarding our demands, and if they are not met, we will take it to the ministry level, while we are also ready to hit the streets for this,' said the Darjeeling sub-division HPWU president, Sudesh Rai.