The Co-ordination Committee, a platform of 26 trade workers’ unions active in the tea industry, is rooting for a special increase ahead of the new wage agreement due next year.
As the state heads for elections next year, the unions are pushing for a “special” increase for the 2.6 lakh workers in North Bengal under the garb of a compensation for the food inflation.
The composite wage cost for the industry in West Bengal is approximately Rs 140.90 per day and abobe the NREGA level.
“We would like to further clarify that the inflationary rise in prices of wheat and rice, which comprises 50 per cent of the food basket of the workers has been absorbed by the industry in totality as the workers are being issued concessional ration at Rs 0.47 per kg,” Indian Tea Association chairman, Aditya Khaitan, said.
The industry has been saying that the cost of statutory welfare benefits like housing, medical, primary education, infrastructure have been impeding the Indian tea industry’s competitiveness due to the high cost of production and as such 50 per cent of the statutory being borne by the industry should be borne by the government, as was also recommended by various committees set up to study the issue.
The new wage agreement is due to expire in March 2011, but the Co-ordination Committee is no mood to wait.
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While the industry is willing to start early negotiations for the wage agreement, the Co-ordination Committee is only interested in discussing the special increase.
The adivasi union, however, is not pressing for the special increase. “They want an early negotiation for the wage agreement,” an industry source said. Of the 1.7 lakh workers in Dooars, adivasi workers are around 80 per cent.