Assam Tea Garden Workers' Wages Set for Potential Increase

Assam's Chief Minister announced potential wage hikes for tea garden workers, contingent on successful stakeholder negotiations. Labour Welfare Minister and Finance Minister emphasized the importance of wage increases, aiming for implementation by March 1. The government is also addressing land distribution for workers, with legal hurdles cleared.

Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced on Thursday that tea garden workers in the state might see a hike in their daily wages from March 1, provided current talks with stakeholders yield positive results.

During the Motion of Thanks in the governor's address in the assembly, Sarma emphasized that Labour Welfare Minister Rupesh Gowala is actively engaged in discussions with various tea associations, seeking to finalize these negotiations promptly.

The daily wage for tea garden workers last increased by Rs 18 in October 2023, bringing the wage to Rs 250 for those in the Brahmaputra valley and Rs 228 for the Barak valley. Finance Minister Ajanta Neog also highlighted ongoing talks aimed at raising these wages further, underscoring the government's commitment to ensuring economic benefits reach the workers directly. Additionally, the government is poised to begin land patta distribution to workers as previous legal challenges have been resolved.

(With inputs from agencies.)