The tea workers' unions in the state have refused to accept an interim hike of Rs 17.50 on their daily wage, as notified by the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
The state government had recently issued a memorandum, raising the daily wage or talab of the tea workers from Rs 132.50 to Rs 150, with effect from January 1, 2018, in the wake of a delay over the finalization of a wage agreement.
A joint forum comprising Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) among others has threatened to go on a protest if the wage agreement is not finalized soon.
"We are against this interim hike of Rs 17.50. The state unilaterally made the decision without discussing it in the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee. The Joint Forum of Trade Unions in the tea sector has opposed this move, but the local administration is forcing the workers to accept this hike," CITU leader Anadi Sahu said.
The last agreement, which was valid for a three-year period, expired on March 31, 2017.
About 4.5 lakh tea garden workers in the north Bengal will continue to live in distress if the new agreement is not finalized anytime soon, INTUC leader Ramen Pandey said.
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