DIBRUGARH, April 16 - Allaying apprehensions among the tea garden workers that their wages and other entitlements accrued during the 19-day industry closure due to the lockdown would be deducted in the later working season, State Labour Welfare Minister Sanjay Kishan today said that the plantation industry must pay wages and distribute the rations to all its workers notwithstanding the loss the industry has incurred during the 19 days.
�There is a departmental order in which all employers and managements have been asked to pay wages on due dates and also give the labourers the rations they deserve without any deduction. At this time of crisis the industry has to make the payment,� the Minister said while replying to newsmen here today at the Circuit House. The Minister was here to attend a joint review meeting of the Labour Department, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Agriculture Department, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry and other allied industries. Agriculture Minister Atul Bora, Food and Civil Supply Minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan and other MLAs and officials of the departments concerned also attended the meeting.
