North Bengal Tea Workers Hold Protest Meetings Over Minimum Wage, Bonus and Land Pattas

Jalpaiguri: Tea workers in North Bengal have once again raised their demands for the implementation of minimum wages, distribution of land pattas and payment of the upcoming festive bonus.

On Wednesday morning, the Joint Forum, a platform representing tea workers, organised a protest gate meeting at the Karlavally Tea Estate near Jalpaiguri town. Similar programmes are being organised across various tea gardens in North Bengal on Wednesday and Thursday.

The workers are raising three key demands — implementation of minimum wages, distribution of land pattas and a 20 per cent festive bonus.

According to the workers and their representatives, the issue of minimum wages has remained pending for several years. They said tea workers should receive wages in accordance with applicable government provisions and that the long-pending issue should be resolved at the earliest.

The workers have also demanded land pattas for eligible residents living in tea garden areas. They said securing land rights would provide greater stability to tea-garden families and help address their long-standing concerns.

Another major demand is a 20 per cent bonus ahead of the festive season. Workers and their representatives have urged the concerned authorities and tea garden managements to take necessary steps regarding the demand.

The Joint Forum has also raised concerns regarding issues related to workers' payments and working conditions. The workers have called for their grievances to be addressed through discussions involving the government, tea garden managements and workers' representatives.

The ongoing programmes are part of the workers' efforts to draw attention to their demands. The workers have appealed to the government and concerned authorities to intervene and work towards a resolution through dialogue and established legal and administrative procedures.

The demands come at a time when tea workers across North Bengal continue to seek better wages, secure land rights and timely resolution of issues affecting their livelihoods.