Tea workers' union upset over non-payment of arrears

Amitava Banerjee | 1 March 2019 | Darjeeling:  The Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union (DTDPLU), affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has threatened to stop the dispatch of tea from the factories.

"In January 2018, the daily wages of tea garden workers had been increased by Rs. 17.50. However, in most of the gardens in the Hills, the increment took effect from March 2018. A year has passed and still the arrears has not been paid," Karuna Gurung, president of DTDPLU.

The DTDPLU has written to the Darjeeling Tea Association regarding the issue.

She further stated that if the arrears are not paid by March 6 then from March 7 the dispatch of tea from Darjeeling will be stopped. "Out of 87 gardens in the Hills, 70 per cent have not paid arrears yet till now," Gurung said.

There are many gardens that were not depositing provident fund and even giving the fringe benefits to the workers complained the DTDPLU president. "We have no other option than to stop dispatch of tea as all our appeals have fallen to deaf ears,"stated Gurung.

The first and second flush are premium tea and the revenue earned from the sale of first and second flush tea sustains the garden throughout the year.