Bonus Stalemate in Hill Tea Gardens: Tri-Partite Meeting Fails as Owners Offer 9.5 Percent Bonus

KalimNews, 20 September 2024, Siliguri : The tripartite meeting to resolve the issue of bonuses for the 87 tea gardens in the Darjeeling Hills—both large and medium-sized—failed today to reach any conclusion, as the owners offered a 9.5 percent bonus. The meeting was held between the labor trade unions and the tea garden owners, called by the labor department. Another meeting will be held on Saturday at the same venue of chamber of the Additional Labour Commissioner in Dagapur. All political parties and trade unions are demanding a 20 percent bonus in a single installment. Of the 87 gardens, 9 are closed while 4 are semi-closed.

The situation regarding the puja bonus for tea workers in the Darjeeling hills is becoming increasingly tense. This year, while the worker unions are demanding a 20 percent bonus in a single installment, the owners have made it clear that they cannot offer more than 8.33 percent. In light of this, the labor department called a tri-partite meeting, where the owners offered 9.6 percent, which was not accepted by the trade unions. Following a meeting on Friday, the nine worker organizations declared that if the owners remained obstinate and failed to declare an "appropriate" bonus, they would resort to democratic protests in the hills, with a possible hill-wide strike if necessary.

In 2022, due to the intervention of the labor department, the owners provided bonuses in two installments: 15 percent and 5 percent, and a 19 percent bonus was given in 2023.

The tea garden owners, represented by the Darjeeling Tea Association and the Indian Tea Association, claim that the current situation is not as favorable as last year. Production in the gardens has declined, and the cost of tea leaf production has increased. Many gardens are facing losses, making it impossible to provide bonuses at the previous rates. They have informed the labor department that they can only offer a bonus at a minimum rate. A bilateral meeting took place on September 2, during which the owners agreed to an 8.33 percent bonus.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s meeting in Kolkata regarding the bonus for tea workers in 176 gardens in the Terai and Dooars regions resulted in a resolution for a 16 percent bonus.

In 2022, through the intervention of the labor department, the owners distributed bonuses in two parts: 15 percent and 5 percent. Last year, a bonus of 19 percent was given, but this time the situation has become complicated. The nine worker organizations have united to fight for workers' rights. Currently, daily gate meetings are being held in the gardens, demanding a 20 percent bonus for half an hour.

In the Terai-Dooars region, there are nearly 300 active tea gardens. The workers' side has also demanded a 20 percent bonus there.