It's been more than three months since Dussehra or Dipawali, but festival bonuses have still not been handed out to Darjeeling tea workers
Siliguri: It's been more than three months since Dussehra or Dipawali, but festival bonuses have still not been handed out to Darjeeling tea workers. If not settled by 10th March, this grievance may cause major turmoil with enough potential to ruin the coming high value first-flush output.
Trade unions are now taking the issue to another level. "We will have to go in for a field-level movement," said Saman Pathak, DarjeelingBSE 0.00 % district CITU Secretary and a major functionary in the multi-party tea workers' conglomeration.
At a recent meeting, state labour minister Maloy Ghatak urged all gardens to clear bonus payments by 10th March.
Planters say it is going to be difficult to adhere to that timeline. "We are in too tight a financial situation to comply despite all our positive intentions. The political crisis caused us huge losses during the peak period," said a veteran planter who doesn't want to be named.
He was referring to the 104-day bandh in the hills that started last June following a political tussle between Trinamool Congress and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha. According to Indian Tea Board data, production fell below 10% of capacity during certain periods when the bandh was on.
Ahead of the festive season, gardens, trade unions and the state government had collectively decided on a 19.75% bonus rate, to which plantation owners had agreed. "They must comply with that," Pathak said.
If this impasse stretches beyond March 10 it may lead to a major unrest, ruining the first-flush production that runs from the first week of March to mid-April. The best-quality leaf produced during this period draws the highest prices.
As per Indian Tea Association stats, first-flush contributes 20% to total annual production, but accounts for around 35% of total value.
There are 87 gardens in Darjeeling spread over 17,500 ha with total average output of 9 million kg of premium quality tea. They collectively support the families of around 1 lakh workers.
Trade unions are now taking the issue to another level. "We will have to go in for a field-level movement," said Saman Pathak, DarjeelingBSE 0.00 % district CITU Secretary and a major functionary in the multi-party tea workers' conglomeration.
At a recent meeting, state labour minister Maloy Ghatak urged all gardens to clear bonus payments by 10th March.
Planters say it is going to be difficult to adhere to that timeline. "We are in too tight a financial situation to comply despite all our positive intentions. The political crisis caused us huge losses during the peak period," said a veteran planter who doesn't want to be named.
He was referring to the 104-day bandh in the hills that started last June following a political tussle between Trinamool Congress and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha. According to Indian Tea Board data, production fell below 10% of capacity during certain periods when the bandh was on.
Ahead of the festive season, gardens, trade unions and the state government had collectively decided on a 19.75% bonus rate, to which plantation owners had agreed. "They must comply with that," Pathak said.
If this impasse stretches beyond March 10 it may lead to a major unrest, ruining the first-flush production that runs from the first week of March to mid-April. The best-quality leaf produced during this period draws the highest prices.
As per Indian Tea Association stats, first-flush contributes 20% to total annual production, but accounts for around 35% of total value.
There are 87 gardens in Darjeeling spread over 17,500 ha with total average output of 9 million kg of premium quality tea. They collectively support the families of around 1 lakh workers.