Hope about rise in minimum wages in tea gardens

 The Minimum Wage Advisory Committee comprising tea garden management, trade unions and the West Bengal Government sat for a meeting in Siliguri to discuss the way forward.

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 9, 2024 : Following a meeting of the Minimum Wage Act Advisory Committee Board, the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union has expressed optimism about the government implementing the act before the expiry of the deadline be set by the High Court.

On Tuesday, the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee comprising tea garden management, trade unions and the West Bengal Government sat for a meeting in Siliguri to discuss the way forward.

In September 2023 the High Court had issued a directive, asking for the completion of the process for implementing the minimum wage Act within six months. This deadline expires in the first week of February, 2024.

"Today's meeting was crucial because the HC verdict expires in February. This is the 18th meeting of the advisory committee which was chaired by State Labour Minister Maloy Ghatak. We discussed in detail all records, presentations, data we have at our disposal to put forward our case and demand," said Suraj Subba, president of the DTDPLU.

In 2023 after the State Government intervened, the tea garden workers were provided an interim wage raise of Rs 18. The owners however filed a petition in the HC challenging the decision.

The HC then directed all parties concerned to complete the process for implementing the minimum wage within six months. "Our struggle for minimum wage goes back to 2008. We had submitted several memorandums and our demand to the state government. We are sure that our demand will be met," said Subba.

The next meeting of the advisory committee is scheduled on January 30. DTDPLU affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha said the advisory committee had failed to take up the minimum wage Act issue in the right earnest. "The committee has been slack in its activities. We have had to create pressure on different occasions to get them to take initiatives," said Subba.

In 2023 the trade unions demanded for speedy implementation of the minimum wage Act without specifying on the rate. "We first want the policy and act to be implemented for the tea gardens of the hills. As for the minimum amount of wage, factors like ration calories, social cost, medical and cash and kind among others have to be taken under consideration when fixing the wage rate," said Subba.

The DTDPLU president said it was formulated after taking under consideration factors like provident fund, gratuity, cost of living in West Bengal, cash and kind and bonus to have Rs.600 as the minimum wage for the workers. "We took the one to three ratio and the eight hours working time and found that something in the range of Rs.600 could be acceptable," said Subba.

Tea garden owners say production has come down over the years. The DTDPLU president while admitting this said poor wage was the primary reason. "We used to produce 1.4 million kg of tea leaf which now has come down to 620,000 kg. However the reason behind this is the wage given by the owners. It is not sufficient for the workers who look for other avenues to earn a living resulting in absenteeism. Also the Tea Board of India has failed to look after the health of tea gardens of the hills. Adding to this is the unchecked import of Nepal tea leaves that are blended with the Darjeeling tea leaves," said Subba.

The DTDPLU which is a member of the Joint Forum, comprising various trade unions of the hills and plains said an important meeting would be held before January 30 to create pressure. "Before the next advisory committee meeting on January 30, the JF will sit for a meeting and prepare our strategy. We have gathered all relevant documents and case points to advocate our demand. We will place it before the advisory committee," said Subba.

Other issues discussed in the advisory committee meeting was the closure of tea gardens and demand for bringing in new investors to run the tea gardens of the hills more efficiently.