15% bonus for tea garden workers

Darjeeling: A two-day-long meeting in Kolkata between the management and operating trade unions of Darjeeling tea gardens agreed on 15 percent bonus for the financial year 2017-18. The bonus will be disbursed in all hill tea gardens by October 10.

Though bonus for Dooars and Terai tea gardens was fixed at 19.50% earlier, the management of the Hill tea gardens had categorically stated that bonus would be disbursed at the rate of 8.33% as per the Bonus Act of 1965.

The management claimed that the Hill tea gardens had incurred huge losses last year owing to the political strife and the 104-day-long bandh. They had also stated that there would be no negotiation meetings.

However, with the unions mounting pressure, the Darjeeling Tea Association had called for a meeting in Kolkata on October 3. With the management insisting on 8.33% and the unions demanding 20%, the meeting spilled over to October 4.

Finally, at around 11 pm on October 4, an agreement was signed between the Darjeeling Tea Association, Indian Tea Association and the operating trade unions, agreeing on a 15% bonus.

Some trade unions including CITU, Himalayan Plantation Workers Union affiliated to GNLF and the trade union affiliated to JAP staged a walkout without signing the agreement.

All the 87 tea gardens will receive 15% bonus, which will be disbursed before the Puja break, by October 10. If the salary of an employee exceeds Rs 12,750 per month, the bonus will be calculated on Rs 12,750.