Labour codes will help tea, cinchona workers: Bista

There will be a uniform floor wage rate across the country, tea garden workers will be entitled to receive 85 percent of their wages in cash-MP Raju Bista

SNS, SILIGURI, 23 SEPTEMBER 2020: Highlighting the four labour codes, which have introduced by the central government in Parliament, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has claimed that there will be a uniform floor wage rate across the country, and more provisions will have immense impact on workers in the tea and cinchona plantations in this region.

According to him, tea garden workers will be entitled to receive 85 percent of their wages in cash, while plantation owners can deduct only 15 percent as in-kind payment. "Given that currently around 50 percent of tea garden wages are deducted as in-kind payment, these codes will ensure that the tea garden workers will be entitled to a much higher wages, than the current rate of Rs 176," Mr Bista said in a release.

According to the principal advisor to the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), Sandeep Mukherjee, wages of workers should be performance-linked like everywhere else. "Things will be lopsided without it, and no industry can bear such unequal weight," he said.

According to the Secretary General of the Tea Association of India (TAB) PK Bhattacharjee, the bill would require a study to evaluate the new features introduced vis-a-vis the present laws and its likely impact on the industry. "However, the attempt of the government to streamline the various labour laws is laudable," he said.

However, Mr Bista further claimed: "Guided by the mantra "reform, perform and transform" as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this bill seeks to simplify multiple labour laws in favour of workers and industry and usher in labour reforms that are befitting to the 21st century."

"These hills wiIl provide coverage to around 50 crore workers from both organised and unorganised sectors, as compared to only around 10 crore workers who were covered earlier," he added.

According to the MR the Minimum Wage rate, wage payment on time, equal pay for male and female workers and other provisions will ensure that exploitation of workers, which had continued from the British Raj will end.

"These laws will bring in a new wave of safety, security and prosperity for all the workers across our country," Mr Bista said, adding, "I have requested the govemment to bring in Plantation Workers' Rights Act a new legislation, on the lines of Forest Rights Act (2006) to guarantee Parja Patta rights for the tea garden and cinchona garden workers."