34 trade unions, 11 planters' reps, officials set to talk tea wage hike: Bista speaks on tea issues in Parliament

SNS, SILIGURI, 30 MARCH 2022: Additional Labour Commissioner (ALC) Md Rizwan has called for a 'joint conference' on enhancement of wages for daily-rated tea workers and monthly-rated staff and sub-staff associated with registered tea gardens. The ALC has invited leaders of 34 trade unions and officials associated with 11 planters' bodies at his office in Siliguri on 2 April.

According to Md Rizwan, Minister of State for Labour Department Becharam Manna had asked him to hold such a meeting.

It may he noted here that the Minimum Wages Advisory Council chairman, Barun Ray, held a meeting, which was inconclusive, here a few weeks ago. Demanding division of the monthly salary, the Staff and Sub Staffs Joint Committee had staged an agitation and demanded that authorities bring back the traditional three-year tripartite agreement on the salary, after suffering huge financial losses after the agreement was discontinued until the settlement of the Minimum Wages Act issue.

However, a few organisations have staged demonstrations, demanding implementation of Minimum Wages. Finally, 15 trade unions have jointly demanded implementation of the Minimum Wages Act and joined a two-day all-India strike called by central trade unions on 28 and 29 March.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Terai Indian Planters' Association (TIPA) Mahendra Prasad Bansal, in a press note, said that the situation has come to a very alarming stage and that any further increase in any front will be unbearable.

"At present, the Tea Industry of North Bengal is just staggering to stay functional and if the industry does not become vibrant and earn profit, the earlier glorious days cannot return," Mr Barisal said. He also pointed out the "abnormal increase" in the cost of production, non-availability and steep increase in the price of MOP from Rs 17,000 per metric ton to Rs 40,000 per metric ton, and the price of coal that has shot up from Rs 7,500 per MT to Rs 20,000 per MT.

Bista speaks on tea issues in Parliament

At a time when a wage enhancement meeting would be held here, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, during 'question hour' in the Parliament, has asked the Ministry of Commerce a few questions relating to the tea industry, and issues concerning the welfare of garden workers.

"Answering to my question concerning the delay in the implementation of new labour codes, Union Minister of State Anupriya Patel stated that the central government has enacted historic labour reforms through the four Labour Codes on wages, social security, occupational health, and industrial relations," Mr Bista said.

"She further stated that the Plantation Labour Act 1951 has been subsumed in these labour codes, hence, no one can stop the guaranteed Minimum Wages rights for the workers," he added.

According to him, the government of India ha s a 'ready issued a Gazette Notification for them in 2020 itself. "However, the state of West Bengal is yet to frame the rules concerning the implementation of these codes, and there has been an inordinate delay. However, the Commerce Ministry is pushing for the rules concerning these four labour codes to be developed and implemented at the earliest," Mr Bista, who is also the national spokesperson for the BJP said.

"These Labour Codes will ensure fair and equitable wages for all workers, ensure better, safer and healthier working conditions for the workers and promote ease of doing business for the industry. The deliberate delay by the West Bengal government is hurting the workers and the tea industry as well," the MP added.

In reply to Mr Bista's queries, Minister Patel further said that the land being a state subject, "our Ministry has taken up the issue with the State Government of West Bengal vide letters dated 26.02.2021 and 06.09.2021 requesting to consider allowing the tea garden workers, right over their land."

"Despite tall claims made by Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Trinamul Congress led West Bengal government has absolutely refused to work towards the welfare of our sisters and brothers working in the tea and cinchona gardens of Darjeeling' Hills, Terai and Dooars," Mr Bista said.

"I will leave no stone unturned to ensure Parja Patta rights and right to Fair and Equitable \ Wages for our tea and cinchona garden workers," he added.