Tea companies in Upper Assam agree to pay arrears to its employees

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: The tea companies in Upper Assam, which allegedly deprived salaries and wages to its employees during the period of COVID-19 lockdown on the pretext of poor production, have finally agreed to clear the dues in June.

The development has come after some tea companies came under pressure from various groups and faced criticism for not paying salaries and wages in time. Though majority of the tea companies paid 70 per cent of salary for the month of March, some tea companies totally abstained from paying the same.

While James Warren Tea Limited, having seven tea gardens in the State, will clear the salaries outstanding for the months of March and April 2020 in the month of June 2020, the Assam Company India Ltd with 14 gardens spread across Assam has agreed to pay the balance 30 per cent of salary for the months of March and April along with the June 2020 salary. These decisions by the companies have been communicated in writing to the Assam Chah Karmachari Sangha (ACKS).

With respect to the Apeejay Group of Companies which allegedly kept the salaries of employees for the March and April in abeyance, general secretary of ACKS Girish Borpatra Gohain told this correspondent that the Group has verbally agreed to clear the March salary in June.

"We are yet to receive any communication officially. The group is, however, maintaining silence on paying the April salary (already due)," Gohain said, adding that though the ACKS has accepted the offer under protest yet it expects the garden managements to be reasonable and compassionate towards all employees of the garden during the ongoing financial crisis.

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