COVID-19 lockdown: Tea Estates in Tinsukia district flout labour norms on salaries & wages

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: Stalemate over the payment of wages and salary to tea employees during the period under closure due to lockdown is yet to be resolved as the managements of several tea gardens in Tinsukia district continue to defy previous government orders, even after a warning letter was issued to several tea garden managers by the Assistant Labour Commissioner Tinsukia on Tuesday following receipt of complaints.

Though the Deputy Labour Commissioner-cum-Chief Inspector of Plantation, in pursuance of orders issued by Labour Commissioner Assam vide letter LF16/2018/4035-98 of 21.3.2020 and MHA No 40-3/2020 DM-1(A) of 29.3.2020, directed all the Tea Estate managements vide letter no PLA.7/06/Pt-1 of 2.4.2020 to make payment of wages to all employees, staff and workers without any deduction for the period under closure during lockdown, it has been reported that several tea gardens, including multinationals, defied the government orders.

While some managements started paying arbitrarily as per their whims, others kept the payment in abeyance. There are also allegations that some managements allegedly applied pressure tactics on the employees to accept 50 per cent to 70 per cent on the plea of poor tea productivity. Following labourers’ unrest reported from some tea gardens, including the Tipuk TE in Doomdooma, over the payment of wages and ration, the managements were compelled to accept the demand following intervention of the Civil administration and Police.

After receiving several complaints that many tea gardens have failed to pay the full amount of salary to the staff and employees for March, 2020; and that 50 per cent of the total amount has been paid without arriving at any consensus thereby unilaterally deducting 50 per cent salary , the Assistant Labour Commissioner Tinsukia, in his order on April 28, 2020, stated that it was a gross misconduct on the part of tea garden managements u/s 15 of the Payment of Wages Act 1936 and asked the managements to clear the remaining 50 per cent salary within three days. Deviation of the instruction would invite action as per provision of the Act, the order added.

Altogether 17 tea gardens in Tinsukia district so far have been identified as defaulters and notice has been served to their managements by the Assistant Labour Commissioner Tinsukia. Of these gardens, seven are under Doomdooma Circle (all owned by MK Shah Export Ltd) namely Daimukhia, Beesakopie, Raidang, Bordubi, Koomsong, Bagjan and Philobari; 13 under Margherita Circle: Dirok, Margherita, Namdang and Bogapani (all owned by Williamson Magor), Dehing (Dehing Tea), Ledo, Segunbari, Powai (Amalgamated), Hollonghati, Shreekrishna, Pengaree (Apeejay Group), Brahmajan and Khatangpani; and seven under Tinsukia Circle: Khetojan (Dhunsiri), Deohall and Hatimara (Warren Tea); Mahakali, Keyhung and Itakhuli (McLeod Russel) and the registered office (WTL).

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