Mamata refuses to intervene in tea garden bonus issue in Darjeeling hills

PTI, KOLKATA, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday refused to intervene in the ongoing bonus issue of tea garden workers of Darjeeling hills, where they were observing a 12-hour general strike. She alleged that the impasse was the result of political disturbances.

"I don't support any strike. A tripartite meeting is going on with the Labour Commissioner regarding the demands of the tea garden workers. They will decide (the matter)," Banerjee told reporters in Siliguri before leaving for Kolkata. Tea garden workers were demanding a 20 percent bonus while management proposed only 13 percent, leading to an impasse. 

Labour unions representing tea garden workers in the hills have announced a 12-hour general strike after negotiations over the bonus failed to yield any result.

Asked whether she would intervene in the matter, Banerjee said, "No, I cannot interfere. The Labour Commissioner will sort it out after meeting them. A few people were trying to disturb it politically. The matter in Terai and Dooars has been settled. I hope the matter in the Hills will also be settled."

On September 19, following three rounds of bipartite talks here in Kolkata, a bonus of 16 percent was decided for the Terai and the Dooars tea gardens.

Senior trade union leader Saman Pathak said, “A 13 percent bonus offered by the management is not acceptable. We demand not less than 20 percent.”

In the 2022-23 fiscal, the tea industry had settled for a bonus payout of 19 percent, he said. The Tea Association of India (TAI) had said that the industry has been passing through a severe financial crisis for a prolonged period.