DIBRUGARH, Sept 19 - Most tea garden owners have agreed to pay 20 per cent bonus this year too, informed Paban Singh Ghatowar and Dileswar Tanti of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS). The two leaders claimed this year�s peaceful bonus settlement has once again proven the pre-eminence of the ACMS in matters relating to tea labour welfare.
The companies which have already signed the bonus pay-out agreements with the ACMS for 2014-15 include Warren Tea (seven estates), MK Shah Exports (11 estates), Goodricke (four estates), Stuart Holl (four estates), Amgoorie India (four estates), Dhunseri Tea & Industries (10 estates), Badulipaar, Atmaram Tea Company, Langkashi Tea, Jalan Estates (four estates). Both Ghatowar and Tanti, ACMS president and general secretary respectively, said other tea companies too are in the final stage of negotiations for 20 per cent bonus payments.
These companies include Tata Tea, McLeod Russell and Andrew Yule. The cash payments are likely to be made within this month itself. Conventionally, the payments are made 20 days prior to Durga Puja. Many gardens also split the bonus pay-outs into two installments, one at the time of Durga Puja and the other at the time of Holi.
