Joint Forum, a conglomeration of around 23 trade unions from the Hills and the Plains and associated with the tea industry, has decided to launch a series of programmes, demanding implementation of the Minimum Wages Act in the tea gardens of the Hills, the Dooars and the Tertai.

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting held at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Samellan hall here on Tuesday, where representatives of all the trade unions in the Hills were present, except for the one belonging to the Trinamul Congress.

“Tea garden workers have been suppressed by the garden management for many years now. A tripartite meeting was held in the year 2015 among the state government, tea garden management and trade unions where it was agreed that within the next six months, the MWA would be bought into implementation. No such thing happened, and instead, an interim arrangement has come into being with an increase of Rs 17.50 in the daily wage. We are against this and want a permanent solution,” Joint Forum spokesperson Zia-ul Alam said.

“With the wages they are getting now, it is not possible for the workers to meet the increasing expenses of everyday life. We have our constitutional rights and we will assert our actions and hope that we can do this by remaining united. However, we hope that the state government and the garden management will take necessary measures to fulfill our demands or we will have to take harsher action,” said Mr Alam, who, however, ruled out shutdowns.

According to Mr Alam, the meeting on Tuesday decided to take out a rally in Mirik on 24 June, where different leaders of trade unions in the Hills would be present, followed by a memorandum to be served on the 27th and 28th of this month to the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration regarding their demand. The Joint Forum has also planned to hold demonstrations in tea gardens of the Hills, Dooars and Terai on 2-5 July.

The meeting also decided to pay homage to the martyrs of Margaret’s Hope Tea Garden near Sonada, where six persons had died in police firing on 25 June, 1955. The workers that time had been taking part in a rally, demanding an increase in wages and other statutory benefits. The Joint Forum has decided that on that day, they will hold gate meetings in all tea gardens before going to work.

The JF also said that the matter of ration not being given to garden workers was also one of the things discussed in the meeting on Tuesday.

Separately, Mr Alam said that it is state government’s duty to finalise the minimum wages for tea workers.

“The Minimum Wage Advisory Committee in Assam has suggested minimum wages of Rs 350 for tea workers. But the matter is still pending in West Bengal. The state should take initiatives to ascertain the amount of minimum wages. It may be less or higher than Rs 350, but the matter should be settled shortly,” he said. Notably, state labour minister Moloy Ghatak recently asked officials to hold a meeting to take a decision on the matter.