Puja Bonus: Challenges and celebrations in Assam’s tea estates

Dipak Kurmi

(The writer can be reached at dipaknewslive@gmail.com.)

Employees in both government and private sectors eagerly anticipate the word ‘bonus’ as it brings forth feelings of joy and appreciation. Entrepreneurs offer these additional rewards at the end of the year, not only to supplement the annual income of their workforce but also to foster confidence and respect within the industry. This practice contributes to a positive atmosphere, especially during festive seasons. Industries serve as the backbone for numerous livelihoods, with owners playing a crucial role in the well-being of their employees. The mutual harmony and relationship between employers and workers are vital for the development, growth, and overall peace within an industry.

Recognizing this, governments worldwide, including the Government of India, have implemented laws to govern industrial practices. These regulations aim to establish good relations between industry owners, employees, and the government, preventing any unilateral policy decisions. Constitutional provisions, such as the PF Act of 1948, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, and the Personal Injury (Compensation Insurance) Act, ensure equality among owners, employees, and the government. For instance, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, mandates that employers reward workers with a bonus equivalent to twenty percent of the industrial enterprise’s profits, on top of their annual basic earnings, acknowledging the hard work and contribution of employees throughout the year.

Tea workers in the tea estates of Assam attach great significance to the term bonus. Their year-round toil, under the continuous gaze of sun and rain, centers around the hope of receiving this additional reward. The bonus is contingent upon the employer’s ability to demonstrate profits resulting from commendable work without harming the tea industry. The bonus amount is subject to reduction if the work is subpar or wasteful, as it is tied to annual earnings. For these workers, who often lack savings, their primary expectation revolves around the eagerly awaited bonus. Festivals like Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Lakshi Puja, Saharai Puja, etc., are joyously celebrated with the bonus money. A long-standing tradition within the tea workers’ community involves using the bonus to purchase new clothes for children, elders, friends, and women, worn proudly during Puja festivals.

Satisfaction prevails among workers when the bonus adheres to the legal requirement of 20 percent. However, when faced with the minimum bonus of 8.33 percent, workers express their discontent through demands, protests, agitations, and sit-ins. According to the Bonus Act, plantation authorities are obligated to pay a maximum bonus of 20 percent and a minimum of 8.33 percent. The bonus percentage depends on whether the plantation registers a profit or incurs a loss in terms of annual income. Many plantations often depict losses in their annual income-expenditure balance sheets, as it offers tax deductions. Consequently, there is a prevalent inclination among plantations to pay the minimum bonus of 8.33 percent, leading to conflicts between workers and employers.

Subsequent discussions involving employers, workers’ representatives, and the labor department sought to resolve these issues. A resolution emerged wherein the company proposed paying an 8.33 percent bonus, labeling the remaining 10 and 11 percent as ex gratia to circumvent tax obligations. Through dialogue, representatives from employers, tea workers, and the government’s labor department successfully addressed and resolved these challenging matters.

In numerous instances, employers seek to adhere to the government-mandated minimum bonus of 8.33 percent, sparking disputes with tea workers and resulting in various forms of protest, including agitation, sit-ins, and lockdowns. To address these conflicts, regular conciliatory negotiations take place involving representatives from the tea workers, the Government’s Labor Department, and the employers. Unfortunately, there are situations where workers insist on a 20% bonus, prompting employers to implement measures such as lockdowns in response to unfavorable decisions. Consequently, entire plantations may face disruptions, causing numerous challenges for hundreds of plantation workers.

The unyielding stance of employer authorities erodes the trust and confidence of workers in the plantation industry and their relationship with employers. Tea plantation laborers dedicate themselves diligently from morning till evening, with their only expectation being the bonus during the Puja season. For these workers, tea plantation work is the sole source of livelihood, with no agricultural land, personal households, or alternative employment opportunities. The tea working community observes several festivals, such as Karam Puja, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Lakshmi Puja, and Garia Puja, during which the tradition is to provide new clothes to families, underscoring the significance of the bonus.

Disruptions in the bonus payment not only frustrate workers but also diminish the joys of the entire year. In an effort to mitigate bonus-related issues, some tea estates proactively announce a 20% bonus in advance. However, challenges arise as representatives of plantation workers engage in negotiations regarding additional benefits. Despite the primary demand for bonus rights, there is a noticeable lack of unity among plantations compared to the past few decades. Selfish brokers endeavor to create divisions among them by offering inducements, and in some instances, owners exploit these divisions. To prevent such divisions, ongoing discussions between workers’ representatives and employers are crucial. Tea plantation owners must empathize with the emotions and feelings of tea workers, acknowledging their hard work and contributions. Sustaining the strength of the tea industry hinges on the potential, cooperation, and trust between workers and employers. As bonus time approaches, a wave of happiness and festivity sweeps through the minds of tea plantation workers. A significant majority, around 70-80%, of these workers are uneducated, with 90% of women, particularly mothers, falling into the category of the uneducated, and a notable portion of them being illiterate. While the younger generation of women shows some improvement in education levels, overall awareness remains low in the society, particularly regarding modern-era values in education, socio-economic factors, health, and the environment. Exploitative tactics and diplomacy have been employed by certain individuals, leading to a lack of understanding and discourse within the tea plantation community.

The unemployment crisis and population explosion in plantation society have pushed the unemployed towards engaging in various anti-social activities, contributing to a prevalent issue of drug use. The bonus period brings its own set of challenges, including an influx of traders from outside the tea estates selling goods at inflated prices. Despite the challenges, the festival period is marked by increased joy, dancing, and singing, reflecting the celebratory nature of the occasion.

It becomes imperative for tea plantation authorities, tea workers’ unions, and voluntary organizations representing tea ethnic communities to shoulder the responsibility of raising awareness, especially among the younger generation. Measures need to be implemented to curb environmental degradation, including organizing government liquor shops and regulating domestic and foreign liquor shops within plantations, as well as addressing issues related to gambling during festivals. The persistent problems spanning 100-150 years can only be tackled through collective efforts. It is crucial to uplift the large tea working community of Assam in parallel with other tribes and ethnic groups in the region. Neglecting this responsibility would not only burden but curse the society, leaving it in a perpetual state of neglect.