Assam proposes hike in minimum wages to Rs 177.19 per day for tea workers

GUWAHATI: What is seen Congress government’s preparation for next year’s assembly poll, the state government has decided to hike the minimum wages of tea workers to Rs 177.19 per day.

Presently the tea workers are getting Rs 115 in Brahmaputra valley.

Assam government on July 29 has come out with draft proposal where cash components of wages per day is proposed at Rs 143.50 and non statutory benefits which includes supply of food staff at concessional rates, fire wood compensations and others) stand at Rs 5.74.

This coupled with other statuary benefits like earned leave and festival holidays will come up to Rs 177.19. Two months time is given to file objections.

Tea planters who do not want to be quoted told ET, "This will imply huge cost burden for the industry. There is no chance that government will pay heed to out objections."

Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya in past said that condition of tea labourers is really miserable. Dattatreya said, "We will seek report from the state government of the status of the implementation of the minimum wages in the tea estates and will examine the same."

There are over 10 lakh labourers engaged in the tea industry of the Assam.