Tea Workers to Protest, Demand Minimum Wages Act

The Joint Forum's agitation underscores the workers' long-standing demands for fair wages, land rights, and government accountability, as they prepare to mark a decade of unfulfilled promises

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The Joint Forum, a coalition of over 30 trade unions representing tea plantation workers of north Bengal, has announced an agitation programme to address critical issues in the tea industry.

Significantly, tea workers from Terai, Dooars, and the Hills will observe a protest day on 20 February, wearing black badges to demand the implementation of the Minimum Wages Act. This protest marks a decade since 20 February, 2015 agreement, which promised the finalisation of minimum wages but remains unfulfilled.

Spokesperson of Joint Forum, Ziaul Alam stated: "Since chief minister Mamata Banerjee publicly announced that 30 per cent of tea plantation land will be transferred for other purposes, she must publicly withdraw her plan."