DIBRUGARH, Jan 17: About 32,000 tea garden workers of 14 tea estates owned by the Assam Company India Limited in the State have been waiting patiently for the payment of the remaining 10 per cent of their bonus.
The company had disbursed a part of the bonus to the workers ahead of the last Durga Puja with the assurance that the remaining 10 per cent would be paid before the Bhogali Bihu. However, the remaining part of the bonus is still to be paid.
CK Baruwa, senior official of the company, said that the delay has been caused due to the insolvency resolution process initiated against the company. He said that the outstanding bonus would be disbursed very soon.
It may be mentioned here that the National Company Law Tribunal in November 2017 had ordered a corporate insolvency resolution process against the Assam Company India for defaulting on payments to an infrastructure development company. The company, which also deals in oil and gas exploration, is facing bankruptcy proceedings for failing to honour the guarantee.
The Assam Company India Limited-owned tea estates affected by this development include Digulturrung, Dinjan, Rungagora, Nudwa, Thanai, Hazelbank, Maijan, Greenwood, Khoomtaie, Borborooah, Doomur Dullung, Kandoli, Kotalgoorie, Hajua Mohokutie and Oakland.
According to Lakheswar Tanti, secretary, Moran branch of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), and Nabin Keot, secretary, Dibrugarh branch of the ACMS, the workers were informed that the remaining bonus would be paid before January 20. However, sources said that the workers could be asked to wait for some more time.
On the other hand, trade union leaders are apprehensive of an unrest in the event of further delay in the bonus payment as a commotion had already started at Digulturrung Tea Estate in Tinsukia district over the issue.
