STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
Siliguri, 12 March
The second tripartite meeting that was held in a bid to settle the tea workers’ wage issue ended inconclusively today, as planters refused to accept the demand for variable dearness allowance (VDA).
The meeting however, decided that a third round of talks would be held in Darjeeling Hills after the end of the general elections.
Both union leaders and workers in tea plantations were upset when the planters did not agree to accept the demand for the introduction of the VDA. Planters informed both the labour department officials and trade union leaders that they will not able to table proposals for revised wages, following the trade unions’ demands for a wage hike, if they continue to demand the VDA. The fate of a few trade unions now remains uncertain since they have been demanding that the revised wages be announced before the expiry of the three-year wage agreement, which will expire on 31 March.
Joint labour commissioner Muhammad Rizwan, at the end of the meeting today, requested trade union leaders not to take the agitation path demanding the revised wages so that planters are forced to issue a closure notice. Mr Rizwan said another tripartite meeting will not be held till the end of May due to the general elections.
"Not only political leaders, but also government officials will be engaged in elections. The labour commissioner will leave for other states as an election observer," he said.Notably, a large section of trade unions, out of the 23, stood by the VDA demand till the end of the meeting.
"The tripartite talks should be continued, keeping in mind the concept of the VDA and minimum wages to settle tea workers’ wages," the Trinamul Congress-backed trade union leader, Alok Chakraborty, said.
GJMM-backed trade union leaders were also present in today&’s meeting, and the state labour department, considering their demand, has decided to hold the third tripartite meeting in Darjeeling.The state government has decided that the basic wages for tea workers for the Dooars, Terai and the Hills should be equal.