SONARI, April 18 - Tea production commenced in Charaideo district from April 14 last after a gap of 20 days. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation, urged upon the industrialists to pay the wages to workers despite the lockdown, in Charaideo district, the plantation industry has failed to pay wages to its workers for the 20-day lockdown period.
The condition of casual workers of the tea gardens in the district worsened during this period and even after the commencement of production, they are yet to be engaged by their respective employers.
Following the instruction of the Central government that only 50 per cent of workers be engaged in work, the tea estates in the district have engaged only permanent labourers.
Though the permanent workers were given ration during the 20-day lockdown period, the casual workers in the district were deprived of ration during the same period.
Talking to this correspondent, Rajib Bora, State president of the Bharatiya Chah Mazdoor Sangha (BCMS), said the BCMS urged upon the management of tea estates to ensure payment of wages to all workers, but it is a matter of grave concern that the employees and the management of tea estates did not pay the wages during the lockdown period.
Prakash Nag, Sonari Circle secretary of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), said there is a departmental order from the Labour Commissioner in which all the employers have been asked to pay wages on due dates and also give the labourers the ration they deserve without any deduction, but the management of tea estates did not pay wages for the lockdown period, citing financial crisis.