Tea Garden Workers Demand 20% Bonus Before Puja, Threaten Shutdown

Moran, September 10, 2019:

The tea workers in Assam’s Moran have protested demanding 20% bonus. The Tea Workers Mukti Sangram Samity and All Assam Adivasi Students’ Association (AAASA) has staged a protest against Consultative Committee of Plantation Association's (CCPA) decision to offer 8% bonus citing losses.

An AAASA member has said that it is mandatory that the workers receive 20% bonus ahead of Durga Puja. "But, CCPA announced that only 8.33% bonus will be provided. This is not acceptable!"

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He further demanded that the tea gardens announce for 20% bonus, and workers of 14 estates in Assam. "All Assam Adivasi Students’ Association (AAASA) demands the announcement by tea companies before September 15, failure of which, will lead to shut down of the estates", he said.

With barely a month left for Durga Puja, the Dibrugarh district administration has asked the garden owners to pay puja bonus to plantation workers by September 20.

The planters were also asked to announce the “quantum” of puja bonus before September 5 during a tripartite meeting on Wednesday evening (Aug 28) that was chaired by additional deputy commissioner Sanjay Dutta.

Representatives of the Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA), Assam Tea Planters Association (ATPA), Tea Association of India (TAI), Bharatiya Chah Parishad (BCP) and North-Eastern Tea Association (NETA), Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) and Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA).

The industry was urged to transfer the bonus amount directly to the bank accounts of the workers instead of the old method of cash payment. This year Durga puja begins on October 4.

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