August 20 meeting will sort minimum wage issue: Ghatak

Darjeeling: State Labour minister Moloy Ghatak on Thursday proposed hike in the wages of tea garden workers and stated that the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee meeting on August 20 in Kolkata will shape the future of the minimum wage issue.

On Thursday, a bipartite meeting took place between the government and tea garden management (representing the proprietors), at Uttar Bongo Marwari Bhawan in Siliguri. Ghatak was present in the meeting.

Later, talking to media persons, Ghatak stated: "since last year, the second hike installment of Rs 10 is due. Hence we have decided to increase the present daily wage of Rs 159 to Rs 169 from September. This will be followed by annual bonus. From October, we have proposed that daily wages be hiked to Rs 176."

When questioned on the fate of minimum wages, the minister stated that it would be decided in the tripartite meeting of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee on August 20 in Kolkata.

"If the meeting manages to reach a consensus, then minimum wage will be fixed at that amount," added the minister. He stated that Thursday's meeting was a review meeting on the present condition of tea gardens and how things can be improved.

Reacting to questions put forward by media persons regarding the proposed wage hike, Arijit Raha of the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA) stated: "We are not in a position to. However the government will take decisions only after tripartite talks in Kolkata on August 20."

Raha further claimed that the tea industry is facing grave problems at present. "We have apprised the state government that the economic position of the tea industry is extremely weak at present. At this juncture, we are finding it extremely difficult to sustain the present wage of Rs 159. We have requested the government to take cognizance of the huge cost pressure that the industry is facing and to mitigate some of these costs," stated Raha.

He also appealed to the government to look into the productivity issues, so that it increases.

"This will enable us to shoulder the increases that are to come in future. We appreciate that minimum wage is part of a legislative change. We understand that the process has to be completed and we are extending all cooperation," added Raha.

He also appealed to the tea unions not to indulge in any form of bandhs which would further aggravate the situation for both the gardens and the workers.

Incidentally, the Joint Forum of Tea Trade Unions had clamped a 3 day bandh in tea gardens in the plains on August 7, 8 and 9.