ITA Ask Companies to Give Interim Pay Hike to Tea Garden Workers

STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI:

Pay Hike to Assam Tea Worker: The Indian Tea Association (ITA) on Monday asked its member companies to give an interim hike of Rs 26 to the daily wages of tea workers in the State. The interim hike has come into force with immediate effect.

The ITA's decision has come close on the heels of the Gauhati High Court's latest ruling that the tea gardens managements would be at their liberty to pay interim wage hike to tea workers till the issue is finally decided by the Court. The ruling was issued on March 16.

The State Labour Welfare department, through a notification on February 23, 2021 had enhanced the minimum wage of Rs 167 per day by an "interim amount" of Rs 50, taking it to Rs 217 per day. The tea community has been asking for a wage hike of Rs 351 per day.

On March 9, 2021, the ITA and 17 tea companies recently approached the Gauhati High Court and filed a petition challenging the legal validity of the Labour department's notification on interim wage hike for tea workers.

On March 16, 2021, the High Court heard the petition and ruled that liberty should be given to the petitioners (tea companies) to pay to the workmen any interim enhancement of their wages as they deem proper, till the issue is finally decided by the court. The high court has fixed April 23 as the next date of hearing of the case.

ITA Secretary General Arijit Raha in a letter written to its member companies stated that the national committee of the ITA reviewed the Gauhati High Court's order in its meeting held on March 21, 2021.

"It has been decided that an interim enhancement of Rs 26 per day will be granted to Daily Rated Workers in Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley over the existing level of wages with effect from 22.02.2021 till the issue is finally decided by the Hon'ble Gauhati High Court," stated the ITA chief in his letter.

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