Nisha Chettri
Kalimpong, October 13, 2014: 

 The D.D.T.P.L.U (Darjeeling Doars Tarai Tea Plantation Labor Union) on behalf of the joint forum of trade unions operating in tea industry brought a problem about the daily wages of the labors working in various tea estates to the SDO Kalimpong today. The union with the concept of equality of wages discussed about the subsidized housing schemes of workers, minimum wages to be paid to the labors of the country, extension of medical facilities and hospitalizations, safety against use of hazardous chemicals and pesticides, and extending social benefits to the workers to the SDO Kalimpong, Radhika Aiyer. The labors suffering with the problem of wages are poorest among the scheduled employees and add a cause of distress to the workmen which is important to be implemented in West Bengal. The Secretary of Ambiok Tea Estate Sujan Lama with an assumption referred to the discussion of the 5th round of tripartite meet in West Bengal said “the employees are very reluctant and illogically rigid to adhere to the principle as laid in Minimum Wages Act of 1948 of considering the family consumption unit of three instead of most illegal present count of 1.5 units while determining the basic rates of wages.” The living wage is the level of income for a worker which will ensure a basic standard of living including good health, dignity, and comfort and provide for any contingency. Talking about the skyrocketing expenses of raw materials and food items the D.T.P.L.U coordinator of Kalimpong sub division Ramesh Thapa said the present wage of 90 rupees per day is unaffordable for any task. Adding to that Thapa questioned “the tea which served international at cafeterias, VIP and official boxes in the stadium during the world cup this year is the same tea these labors are working for, don’t they deserve a raise of wage?” The central committee of DTPLU also submitted a memorandum to the SDO demanding the effective policy measures for immediate implementation of 5 issues as adopted by the industrial tripartite committee on plantation industry on 16th May 2013, developmental programs to be re-farmed, speedy eradication of growing inequalities and backwardness of tea growing areas and an immediate policy intervention to bring normalcy in closed and abandoned tea estates. Considering the meeting of trade union representatives, tea garden owners, tea boards, etc with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitaram held in Guwahati today the decision of further action might be discussed, “if no action is taken in the meeting we will start a protest in hostility” said Thapa.