Teaworkers' betterment on Centre's agenda

SNS, DARJEELING, 19 NOVEMBER 2019 : Darjeeling BJP Raju Bista today maintained that Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar has assured that the Centre would work for the betterment of tea garden workers. with them currently in the 'consultative phase' of the Occupational Safety and Health (0811) Code Bill, which will subsume the existing Plantation Labour Act of 1951.

This statement from Mr Bista comes after a delegation led by him met the minister in Delhi yesterday. where they raised different issues related to the tea gardens. The delegation consisted of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (Bimal Gurung camp) trade union leaders Suraj Subba and Gopal Ruchal, along with Gorkha National Liberation Front Trade Union leaders DK Gurung, SK Lama and Dinesh Sampang from their Media Cell.

"In the meeting, we explained the problems confronting tea gardens in our region. along with highlighting the plight of the workers there. We informed the minister about how tea gardens have been kept out of the purview of the Minimum Wages Act and how this has negatively impacted the lives of the workers. We also highlighted how the workers have been deprived of land rights over generations. The minister explained to the trade union leaders in detail that the Central Government was working towards guaranteeing dignified wages and improved standard of living not only in the tea gardens, but also the Cinchona plantation workers," Mr Bista  said in a press release.

"The Minister maintained that the government was currently in the consultative phase of the Occupational Safety and Health Code Bill, which will subsume the existing Plantation Labour Act of 1951. He said that the Bill, along with the Code on Wages Bill and the upcoming Code on Social Security Bill, will ensure holistic protection, dignified wages and proper working hours and facilities for the workers. He also explained how they are working towards changing the status of plantation workers to industrial workers, so that they will also benefit from the facilities that are provided to industrial workers, including ESI Hospitals and health facilities," he added.

According to Mr Bista, the minister requested the trade unions to submit their suggestions for the OSH Bill and has assured them that the government would work in close consultation with the Labour Unions to ensure safety and security of the tea gardens,  cinchona and other plantation workers.

On the other hand, speaking of the meeting yesterday, the general secretary of the GNLF trade union, Himalayan Plantation Workers' Union, SK Lama said, "The minister has assured us that in this winter session of parliament that is under way, something will be done for the tea garden workers. He also said that positive steps were being taken for the tea garden workers like the OSH Bill."