GJM demands pay hike of tea garden labourers

DARJEELING: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive Bimal Gurung has demanded that the daily wage of tea garden labourers in the Darjeeling Hills be raised.

Gurung has demanded that the daily wage of tea garden labourers be raised from Rs 90 to Rs 113 next year.

"Unlike in the past, the tea garden management do not have to bother about connectivity as the GTA is constructing and maintaining roads in the gardens. Earlier, the managements had to shell out funds. The hike (for daily labourers) we are demanding is reasonable," Gurung told a gathering on May Day at the Motor Stand here.

"We want the industry to increase the daily wage from Rs 90 to at least Rs 113. Our trade union must start demanding that the hike must not be less than Rs 23," said the GJM president.

The wages of garden daily workers are revised every three years and the next revision is due on April 1, 2014.

During the last revision in 2011, the daily wage was increased by Rs 23 (from Rs 67 to 90), which was the highest hike in the history of the hill tea industry.

The tea gardens in the Darjeeling hills employ around 55,000 workers and another 15,000 are engaged during plucking seasons.