Kolkata meeting to discuss tea production

SNS, Siliguri: The state labour department has called another meeting with trade union leaders and planters to discuss productivity in tea plantations. The meeting will be held in Kolkata on 15 November, an official source said today.

After introducing interim wages of Rs 176 a day for tea workers with effect from 1 October 2018, the labour department has taken a decision to discuss productivity in tea plantations, while it has also kept in mind the planters' complaints against workers and their work culture.

In tripartite meetings held on wage fixation and in meetings of the Minimum Wages Advisory Committee(MWAC), planters have been pointing out to many issues related to workers' absenteeism and others, including eight hours work, and have been allegedly branding the workers as 'kaam chor'

Trade unions are positive about increasing the rate of production, and they have put forward logical arguments and suggestions, which are required to be introduced by the owners as well as the in management for higher production of tea.

According to sources, planters have requested the government to ask trade union leaders to motivate workers to increase the rate of production for the survival of the tea industry.

Sources also confirmed that trade union leaders have agreed to ask the workers at the ground level it there is an official resolution or agreement.

It may be noted here that the state government had called a review meeting last month with planters to know about how in any tea gardens in north Bengal have implemented the decision to pay interim wage of Rs 176 with effect from 1 October.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, following reports from her Cabinet colleague and minister for labour department Malay Ghatak, during her last visit to Tiabon in Jalpaiguri, pointed out to tea workers wage hike and even asked her party leadership to keep a close eye to plantation so that workers can get their revised remuneration.

According to sources around 200 of the 282 registered tea plantations have started paying Rs 176 a day. It is learnt that the rate of wage payment in the Hills was poor compared to the rate in the Terai and the Dooars region. Several garden management failed to clear the interim wage arrears.

It may be recalled that a planters' association has filled a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court, challenging the state that has asked employers to pay the value of ration at the rate of Rs 9 a day, as a part of wages.

A total of 282 tea plantations are registered with the labour department. Of them, 153 are in the Dooars, 86 are in the Hills and the remaining gardens are located in the Terai region, including areas of North Dinajpur. Apart from that, there are over 40 tea gardens, which do not belong to the category of small tea growers, and are unregistered with the labour department.

Asked to comment on the role of trade unions belonging to the Joint Forum (JF), a conglomeration of over 23 trade unions, in increasing productivity, convener of the Forum, Zia ul Alam said: "To increase quality 'labour productivity,' interaction between the employers and labourers on a regular basis is a must. Records show that the rate of labour productivity in the Dooars and the Terai is the highest in India. The labour productivity rate is the highest in the Terai than the Dooars."

Notably, the Forum leadership will hold its internal meeting with its constituents on 12 November to plan for the meeting called by the labour department.

"Only two to three percent workers are allegedly reluctant to work properly in every sector. Proper supervision can resolve that problem. Atleast 52 percent workforce may be engaged if 'unit productivity of land and bush' is increased. If unit productivity of land increases, productivity of labour will be increased automatically," Mr Alam claimed, adding, "We wish to say that the workforce will work happily if the Minimum Wage Act is implemented."

"Apart from productivity, there are many reasons for the decreasing rate of production. More than 45 tea plantations are under threat due to erosion and siltation during monsoon from rivers that that originate from Bhutan. 

Some tea plantations in Alipurduar have been badly affected by air pollution due to rampant mining and  use of chemiicals in Bhutan. The central government has not yet intervened in the matter and it has allegedly diluted activities of the Tea Research Organization (TRA) for better tea production. Frequent power cuts, despite the dedicated supply line and the use of diesel have also increased the cost of production," Mr Alam added.

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