61 Assam tea estates declare 20% Puja bonus for workers

DIBRUGARH: With barely three weeks left for the Durga Puja festivities to begin, as many as 61 out of the 803 registered tea estates in the state have declared 20% bonus for their workers, the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) on Sunday said. The remaining tea estates are also expected to announce their quantum of bonus in the next few days.
The big tea companies to announce 20% bonus are MK Shah Exports Limited for all of its 11 tea gardens, Goodricke (10 tea gardens), Andrew Yule (9 tea gardens), Rossell India Limited (7 tea gardens), Stuart Holl (4 tea gardens), Jorehaut (4 tea gardens), Aamgoorie India Limited (4 tea gardens) and Joktoli Tea Company (2 tea gardens).
The individually-owned tea estates which have declared 20% bonus are Usha, Hollonghabi, Bojaloni, Badlipar, Krishna Subashini, Silonibari, Singimari, Ashwika, Sublime Agro and Bhergaon.
"As per our agreement with the tea companies and individual gardens, they have agreed to pay the maximum 20% bonus. While MK Shah and Jorehaut among the big tea companies are going to pay the full bonus at one go, the others will pay the bonus in two installments of 15% and 5% each," ACMS general secretary Rupesh Gowala said.
He added, "Nine individual gardens are going to pay the full 20% bonus. Only Bherguri tea estate is going to split the bonus into three installments of 10%, 4% and 6% respectively. The payment process will start from Monday. We also expect the other tea estates to announce their bonus percentage in a day or two."
The ACMS had earlier issued a circular to its affiliated tea gardens, asking them to initiate the process of paying bonuses at least three weeks before Durga Puja. The minimum bonus for tea plantation workers under the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 is 8.33% while the maximum rate has been fixed at 20%. All permanent and temporary workers who have worked for a minimum period of 30 days are entitled to the benefit.
The ACMS, which is the largest tea workers' trade union, had already made it clear that it would not accept anything less than 20% bonus. This was after the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations said the tea industry has been hit by recession and it would be difficult to pay more than the mandatory 8.33% bonus this year.