Darjeeling's tea gardens brace for hefty hit from bonus payouts

Firms liable to pay up to 20% of annual wages as bonus every accounting year

A political resolution to the current wave of protest for Gorkhaland statehood could be around the corner with the West Bengal government and major Hill parties initiating a dialogue, but it is unlikely to end the woes of the 87-odd tea gardens in Darjeeling. 

The gardens, whose cash flows have been severely hit owing to total crop loss of the second flush, could see labourers press for high annual bonuses as soon as the operations resume. According to industry sources, plantation workers have not been able to earn for over 70 days now because of the Gorkhaland agitation, and this