The daily wages of the tea garden workers have been raised to Tk 170 from Tk 120 amid their ongoing movement across the country seeking a pay increase.
The announcement came after a meeting between the Prime Minister and the tea garden owners' organization Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA) at the PM's official Ganabhaban residence on Saturday.
After the meeting, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Kaikaus said this to the journalists.
The tea garden workers across the country went on work abstention from August 9 demanding an increase in their daily wages up to Tk 300 from 120.
They withdrew their movement on August 20 after their daily wages had been increased by Tk 25 to 145.
But on the following day, most of the laborers rejected the Tk 145 fixation and started agitation again to press home their demand of up to a Tk 300 rise in wages.
BSS adds: BTA President Shah Alam led the delegation where owners of 13 tea gardens were present.
As per the new daily wage, the other benefits of the tea workers will increase at a proportional rate, said Dr Ahmad Kaikaus.
In this regard, he said here it is necessary to explain that in the tea industry the workers are provided with various benefits, which are borne by the owners.
In that case, he said, all facilities will increase at a proportional rate, for example, the cash wage is Taka 170, along with plucking bonus and factory right work income will increase at a proportional rate.
Annual leave allowance, festival leave with pay, and sick leave will also increase proportionately, he said, adding that “all these are paid.”
The Principal Secretary said that the employer's contribution to the provident fund and annual festival allowance as per the attendance at work will also increase proportionally.
He said that the Prime Minister has called upon the tea workers to join the work as she heard from everyone. The Prime Minister will soon hold a video conference with the tea workers, he added.
At the outset of the meeting, the Prime Minister in her introductory speech said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took the charge as Chairman of the Tea Board in 1957 and gave citizenship to these workers who don’t have any citizenship.
He also provided other facilities to the tea garden workers, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that during her 1996-2001 regime she gave some other facilities considering the importance of the tea industry.
She also said that the Awami League government took initiatives to expand the tea garden from Sylhet and Chattogram to other places of the country including Panchagarh, Kurigram, Thakurgaon, and Lalmonirhat.
“They (tea workers) work very hard and the owners earn, it is the responsibility of all to look after their wellbeing,” she added.
The Premier said that due to the coronavirus pandemic all are affected, but these sections of people who work very hard, have to be taken care of properly.
SUJ/SU