Lens on tea brass exit... mechanism to stop the tea planters from abandoning the garden

TT, 10 March 2019,  Jalpaiguri: The state labour department is considering a mechanism to prevent a section of tea companies from abandoning gardens during winter, the lean season of the industry.

"We are trying to find out a mechanism that will stop the tea planters from abandoning the garden during the lean season. We will also request the chief minister to intervene in the case of the (gardens of the) Duncan Goenka Group in the Dooars," state labour minister Moloy Ghatak said after a meeting with trade unions here on Saturday.

Since 2015, workers serving in tea gardens of the group have been facing problems. The company had earlier abandoned a number of gardens. It was due to the state's intervention that the gardens reopened. However, about 10 days back, another impasse had cropped up in at least six gardens of the group when the managerial staff left the gardens and stayed away for some days.

Also, two gardens of the group which are in Alipurduar district, are still closed.

At the meeting, leaders of the Trinamul-backed Cha Bagan Trinamul Congress Mazdoor Union told the minister that Nagaisuree, Bagrakote and Kilkott ­ three gardens of Duncans which are in Jalpaiguri district, are not functioning normally.

"The wages are due, and so is provident fund. We want a permanent solution," said Dinanath Sharma, who is from Bagrakote.

Mohan Sharma, president of the Trinamul-backed trade union, said, "The workers of Duncans in Alipurduar district are facing irregularities. We have requested the state labour minister organise meetings among the group's representatives and the trade unions. The dues of workers should be cleared and we feel if such irregularities continue, the state should try and find new entrepreneurs who can run these gardens." Most of the managers working in the gardens of Duncans, denied commenting on the issue. "We have nothing to say on their demand. All we can say is that there had been some issues in arranging funds on last week but we have managed to get the funds and have disbursed wages earlier this week, said one manager..