GUWAHATI, AUG 24: The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) on Wednesday demand Social security scheme for unorganized tea workers working at small tea gardens of Assam.
Addressing a press conference at ACMS office in Dibrugarh on Wednesday, ACMS president Paban Singh Ghatowar said, “We demand a worker of a registered tea garden gets several benefits apart from his daily wage. The workers of Small tea garden don’t know the actual wage of tea garden workers. We have already held a meeting with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to increase the daily wage of tea workers working at small tea garden and he have assured to increase it upto Rs 232,”.
“There are at least 1 lakh small tea garden in Assam and a total of 5 lakh workers are working at the gardens. They are facing problem to run their family due to their low wages,” Ghatowar said.
He said, “They are provided 32 kg rice per month at a subsidised rate of 59 paise, firewood amounting to 228 CFT per year or Rs 1,600 to Rs 1800 in cash in lieu, housing facility or house rent of Rs 300 per month, 600 grams of tea per month, yearly bonus from Rs 3,500 upto Rs 6,000, paid maternity leave of 6 months upto two children.15 days paid annual leave, 14 days sick leave, Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh as gratuity during retirement and provident fund of Rs 3 to 4 lakh,”.
“However the unorganised sector tea workers doesn’t get a single penny or benefit even after working for 25 to 30 years. Therefore it is very essential that the government should come up with social security schemes for the small tea garden workers,” he added.
On the other hand, Small tea garden owners in Assam has expressed dissatisfaction over the hike in worker’s wage. Small tea garden owners in Assam have expressed dissatisfaction over the state government’s ‘unilateral’ decision to increase the daily wage of workers.
The Assam government recently announced the decision to raise the daily wage of tea garden workers be they working in big and small tea gardens to Rs 232.