The Consultative Committee of Plantations Association (CCPA) on Thursday expressed concern on the three-day strike from August 7 in West Bengal tea gardens called by the Joint Forum of Trade Unions demanding immediate finalization of minimum wage.
The Consultative Committee of Plantations Association (CCPA) on Thursday expressed concern on the three-day strike from August 7 in West Bengal tea gardens called by the Joint Forum of Trade Unions demanding immediate finalization of minimum wage.
The tea Industry in North Bengal’s Dooars and Terai regions have already suffered substantial production losses during peak season this year due to frequent gate meetings in the first two weeks of July. Darjeeling’s tea industry which is in recovery mode having suffered huge losses, to the tune of around Rs 500 crores last year due to the four-month long strike is in no position to bear any further disruptions. "Therefore, unless normalcy is restored immediately, the production and productivity would decline further," said a release issued by the CCPA.
A tripartite meeting was held on August 6, 2018 at Siliguri when the labour department officials outlined the progress on the issue of minimum wage. It has to be appreciated by all stake holders that the finalisation of minimum wage can only be possible after conclusion of the ongoing discussions of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee and their recommendations to the state government. It is pertinent to mention that in the intervening period two interim increases as ordained by the State government. It is pertinent to mention that in the intervening period two interim increases as ordained by the State Govt have already been implemented in the current year.
The release added that West Bengal government has been active at progressing the minimum wage agenda as per norms and as many as 11 meetings of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee have already been held. The next meeting is scheduled to be held around 20th of this month which was also announced during the meeting of 6th August, 2018 at Uttarkanya.
A section of the trade unions are opposed to this strike as such disruptions lead to preventing the workforce from securing their daily earnings. The officials of the Labour Department and the representatives of CCPA tried their best to reason with the Joint Forum of Trade Unions to refrain from any agitational activity at this stage. Further, the government also offered to examine all the pressing issues at the next meeting of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee to be held on the 20th of this m ..
CCPA said that the tea industry in West Bengal is under severe financial stress as tea prices over the last many years have remained stagnant and have not kept pace with the rising cost of production. Unless price realizations and productivity improve, the industry cannot sustainably implement any further enhancement of wage. Moreover, disruptions by way of Strikes and Gate meetings would aggravate the situation further and make it extremely difficult for the industry to recover on the production front as well as in sustaining the expected quality of Tea made and obligations of payments in future.
The tea Industry in North Bengal’s Dooars and Terai regions have already suffered substantial production losses during peak season this year due to frequent gate meetings in the first two weeks of July. Darjeeling’s tea industry which is in recovery mode having suffered huge losses, to the tune of around Rs 500 crores last year due to the four-month long strike is in no position to bear any further disruptions. "Therefore, unless normalcy is restored immediately, the production and productivity would decline further," said a release issued by the CCPA.
A tripartite meeting was held on August 6, 2018 at Siliguri when the labour department officials outlined the progress on the issue of minimum wage. It has to be appreciated by all stake holders that the finalisation of minimum wage can only be possible after conclusion of the ongoing discussions of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee and their recommendations to the state government. It is pertinent to mention that in the intervening period two interim increases as ordained by the State government. It is pertinent to mention that in the intervening period two interim increases as ordained by the State Govt have already been implemented in the current year.
The release added that West Bengal government has been active at progressing the minimum wage agenda as per norms and as many as 11 meetings of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee have already been held. The next meeting is scheduled to be held around 20th of this month which was also announced during the meeting of 6th August, 2018 at Uttarkanya.
A section of the trade unions are opposed to this strike as such disruptions lead to preventing the workforce from securing their daily earnings. The officials of the Labour Department and the representatives of CCPA tried their best to reason with the Joint Forum of Trade Unions to refrain from any agitational activity at this stage. Further, the government also offered to examine all the pressing issues at the next meeting of the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee to be held on the 20th of this m ..
CCPA said that the tea industry in West Bengal is under severe financial stress as tea prices over the last many years have remained stagnant and have not kept pace with the rising cost of production. Unless price realizations and productivity improve, the industry cannot sustainably implement any further enhancement of wage. Moreover, disruptions by way of Strikes and Gate meetings would aggravate the situation further and make it extremely difficult for the industry to recover on the production front as well as in sustaining the expected quality of Tea made and obligations of payments in future.