DOOMDOOMA, Aug 26 - A situation of unrest is anticipated in the tea gardens of the state following the recent announcement made by the Consultative Committee of Plantation Association (CCPA) which has been formed with five tea growers� organisations namely, Assam Tea Planters� Association (ATPA), Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA) , North East Tea Association (NETA) , Tea Association of India (TAI) and Bharatiya Chah Parishad (BCP). Recently, CCPA declared that the tea industry may fail to disburse 20% bonus to its workers this year before Durga Puja.
Various trade unions associated with the plantation labourers as well as the tea tribes� student bodies expressed sharp reactions over this announcement of the CCPA.
Interacting with the local scribes of Doomdooma, Rupesh Gowala , the general secretary of Asom Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), who is also holding the post of secretary of Doomdooma branch of the frontal plantation trade union of the state, said that the tea companies at any cost must pay the maximum bonus to all their employees before Durga Puja.
�The planters� body can�t wash off its hands by merely saying that the industry is going through a rough period. Losses incurred by a few companies can not be generalised. The tea companies continue to attract good price for quality tea. Besides, the actual average price of tea is never known because about 80% of the total manufactured tea is sold in the auction market. They never disclose the price of what is sold in the open market,� said Gowala.
�If some company is suffering from loss, it is because of their faulty business management and marketing strategy,� he added. Gowala urged the Centre to constitute a high-powered expert committee to delve into the crisis claim of the tea industry.
Gowala made it clear that ACMS would not compromise on the bonus issue of tea labourers before the Durga Puja and would stick to its demand of disbursing maximum bonus.
�For any untoward incident in the tea gardens of the state on bonus issue, the government and the tea companies will be responsible,� warned the ACMS general secretary.
Besides, the student bodies from the plantations like ATTSA and AASAA also have voiced their concern over the bonus issue and have threatened a massive stir if the tea companies failed to disburse maximum bonus to the labourers.
It can be mentioned here that as per the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, the minimum bonus for tea garden workers is 8.33% while the maximum is 20%. All the permanent and temporary workers who have worked for a minimum period of 30 days are entitled to get the bonus.
