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Bengal

Complaint against tea estate owner for not paying workers since August this year

Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union (DTDPLU), affiliated to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Binay faction), lodged a general diary at Darjeeling Sadar police station against the owner, manager and assistant manager of Rungli Rungliot tea estate in Darjeeling for not paying wages and salary of workers and staff since August this year. The manager is also absent from the garden since September 20 without any notice.

The general diary was filed against owner GP Goenka, manager Joydip Mukherjee and assistant manager Binod Saibo. The general diary states that the manager is not in the garden from September 20, 2019, without any notice and labour wages dues are to be paid from August 31 and salary of staff and sub staff since the month of August.

"The management staff had stated that they are taking tea samples to buyers and had left the garden in September and have not yet returned. More than 450 workers, staff and sub staff are working regularly but are not receiving wages and salary. Even during festive season they have not received wages and salary. Who will take responsibility of the garden? We have informed the District Magistrate and the assistant Labour commissioner. They should immediately ensure that the management returns to the garden," stated JB Tamang, working president of DTDPLU.

Trade union leaders said that the condition in the garden is critical. "They are exploiting the workers. The management should clear all the dues. If they can't they should put up an official notice that they are not capable of running the garden," demanded Bharat Thakuri, general secretary, DTDPLU. The garden is run by Duncans.

In another development, Joypur Tea Estate in Dooars that has been facing a shut down is all set to reopen. A meeting was held between trade union representatives and the management on Monday, in which it was decided that garden would open from Tuesday.

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