Govt notifies interim hike in tea wages

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Sep 02, 2018, Siliguri: The state labour department has issued a notification saying tea workers will have to be paid at an enhanced rate with an interim rise from this month. The rate will further increase from October, states the order.

The move has evoked mixed reactions in the industry with the planters' fraternity expressing concern over sustenance of tea gardens, vis-à-vis the rise in their cost of production, if the hikes are implemented.

Following consistent agitations by most of the trade unions who have been demanding immediate fixation of minimum wage rate for tea workers Bengal, the state had, earlier this year, notified an interim increase of Rs 17.50 over the daily wage rate.

Also, another rise of nine rupees was proposed and added with the increased wage rate as cash component for food grains, which the state provides on subsidy to tea companies and in turn, is distributed among the workforce.

The daily wage rate was Rs 132.50 which had increased to Rs 150 after the interim hike and stands at Rs 159 now, following addition of the cash component.

"It is rare indeed that in a year, the state went ahead and proposed interim hike for the second time. A section of tea gardens are already finding it hard to sustain and cope with the rise in wages. Now if another interim hike (of Rs 17) has to be implemented in next two months, it would pose a challenge for these gardens," said a senior tea planter based in Siliguri.

According to the memorandum issued by Javed Akhtar, the state labour commissioner, on August 29, the wage rate has to be increased by Rs 10 from September 1 and by seven rupees from October 1, which means, the new wage rate will be Rs 176 per day.

It is an interim measure to help the workers until the minimum wage rate is finalised, says the order. Representatives of tea planters' associations, however, denied commenting on the issue.

Tea unions appeared split. While those from Joint Forum said the revision would create fresh confusion in the industry, leaders of Trinamul-backed trade unions welcomed the move.

"The order does not state whether there will be a hike in wages and salaries of staff and sub-staff and whether workers who are employed in small tea plantations will come under its purview. Any difference in earnings found after the implementation of the order, can lead to confusion. If implemented, the workers will accept it as it is their right. We would however, still insist on fixation of minimum wage as interim measures cannot eventually resolve any problem," said Ziaul Alam, convener, Joint Forum.

Mohan Sharma, president, Cha Bagan Trinamul Congress Mazdoor Union, said they welcome the decision. "This proves the state's sincerity at the tea workers. We also want the minimum wages to be fixed at the earliest but till then the interim hike will help the workers and their families."