Congress reminds BJP of poll promise of increasing tea workers wage to Rs 350

Congress on Saturday reminded the ruling BJP government of its promise of increasing the daily wages of tea estate workers to Rs 350 per day.

As the interim wage agreement has elapsed, Assam government has enhanced their daily wages by an interim amount of Rs 30 per day. This hike is implemented with retrospective affect from March 1, 2018.

Former industry minister and Congress leader, Pradyut Bordoloi said, “BJP has promised to increase the wages to Rs 350 per day ahead of assembly polls however it is two years now there is no effort to increase the wage.”


He said that BJP led government wants to keep this interim arrangement till 2019 to benefit the industrialist.

Workers in Brahmaputra valley are entitled to a daily wage of Rs 137, while those of Barak valley get Rs 115 along with an “attendance allowance”. Traditionally tea wages are largely paid in two components cash and kind. The kind includes food stuff and fire wood etc.

The bilateral wage agreement between workers union and industry expired in December last. However the BJP led government has changed the same and has formed a committee to revise the minimum wages.

Tea tribe has in past supported congress party however in 2016 assembly the tea tribes gravitated to BJP in Assam and BJP scripted massive electoral success.

Assam government has decided to cover tea workers under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Prime Minister Jeevan Jyoti Yojana.