Tea estate manager in Jalpaiguri held hostage by workers for delay in festive bonus

 Around 7.30am on Wednesday workers of the Grassmore tea estate confined Bhaskar Chakraborty, the manager, for around two hours, demanding immediate payment of the bonus and two fortnights’ wage in cash 

Manager Bhaskar Chakraborty (in green tee) speaks with the workers of Grassmore tea estate in Jalpaiguri on Wednesday. : Picture by Biplab Basak

TT, Jalpaiguri, 03.10.24 :  The manager of a tea estate in the Nagrakata block of Jalpaiguri was confined by a group of workers on Wednesday for the delay in the payment of the bonus ahead of the festive season.

Around 7.30am on Wednesday workers of the Grassmore tea estate confined Bhaskar Chakraborty, the manager, for around two hours, demanding immediate payment of the bonus and two fortnights’ wage in cash.

“The Durga Puja is almost there yet the management has not disbursed the bonus. Unlike other gardens, we have agreed on a bonus at the rate of 10 per cent (the industrywide rate is 16 per cent, as was decided through bipartite talks), considering the financial problems of the management. Even then, there is a delay. We want the payment in cash. Also, the due wage of two fortnights should be cleared,” said Sukhmani Oraon, a woman worker who joinedthe protests.

Sources said that the management has transferred the bonus to the bank accounts of 220 workers though there are 1,150 workers in the garden. “Some managerial staff have told us that if the bonus is paid immediately, the due wage will be paid after the Durga Puja. We will not accept it,” said Amita Sau, another worker.

In the tea industry, wages are usually paid on a fortnight basis. Ahead of the festivities this year, there have been protests at a few tea gardens in the Dooars. While workers in certain gardens have alleged that the management wants to pay the bonus in installments, others have demanded the bonus at a higher rate.

In Grassmore, the manager was confined for around two hours till 9.30am but he was released after he assured of taking necessary steps. “On Thursday and Friday, the bonus would be disbursed among permanent and casual workers, respectively. Ahead of the puja, we will also pay a fortnight’s wage,” said Chakraborty.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph

https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/tea-estate-manager-in-jalpaiguri-held-hostage-by-workers-for-delay-in-festive-bonus/cid/2052730