Tea industry to pay 20 per cent bonus to workers in all 250 estates in Dooars and Terai region

Kolkata, Sept. 7: 

Though the wage negotiation remained inconclusive, the tea industry of West Bengal, on Wednesday, agreed to pay a flat 20 per cent bonus to workers in all 250 estates in Dooars and Terai region of the state, in the ensuing festive season. The agreement excludes estates in Darjeeling.

An agreement in this regard was signed between the regional chapter of Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA), the apex body of planters, and registered trade unions. Nearly, 2,70,000 tea workers would receive bonus beginning next week, a senior CCPA official told Business Line.

According to CCPA sources, for the first time a flat bonus of 20 per cent is declared across all tea gardens in the region. Till last year, tea estates had been classified into four categories, A, B, C and D, based on production capacities and other parameters. In 2010, bonus for A, B and C category gardens was pegged at 20 per cent while that of D category was 18 per cent.

Wage Negotiations

Meanwhile wage negotiations, which have been going on since Sunday (September 4), remained inconclusive.

Workers' unions including Progressive Tea Workers Union (PTWU), Coordination Committee of Plantation Workers Unions and Defence Committee of Plantation Workers Rights have been demanding an increase in wages from the existing Rs 67.50 to a minimum of Rs 91 upfront before negotiations start.

A proposal to pay a minimum wage of Rs 130, at par with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, had also been mooted by the West Bengal government. The CCPA had on its part proposed a hike of Rs 8 a year for next three years. 

CISTA to discuss future of small tea growers

Kolkata, Sept. 7: 

The Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association (CISTA), in partnership with United Forum of Small Tea Growers Association, North Bengal, and Darjeeling Organic Ekta Society, a tea farmers' society, will hold a day-long workshop in Darjeeling on September 11, according to Mr Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty, President, CISTA.

The focus of discussion will be the future of small tea growers in the country in context of the government's policy initiatives, particularly in the 12th Plan period, sustainable production, export-orientation in mini-processing units, branding and quality management and the functioning of the proposed small tea growers' directorate. The speakers will include experts form Tea Research Association, Assam Agriculture University, North Bengal University, Darjeeling Tea Association, Indian Institute of Plantation & Management and Tea Board. Many small growers from Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh will be present.

The number of small tea growers in the country is estimated at 160,000 who produce over 165,000 ha tea. Together they produce 260 million kg of made tea, or roughly 26 per cent of the country's total tea production, processed in 440 bought leaf factories, Mr Chakraborty adds. 

 -Bussinessline