In a significant development for Bangladesh’s tea industry, garden owners have agreed to raise the basic wages of tea workers and staff by 5% annually, starting from the 2024–25 fiscal year.
The decision comes as part of a tripartite agreement signed between employers, workers' unions, and administrative representatives.
The agreement, signed Tuesday at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA) in Dhaka, also includes a commitment to enhance other allowances and welfare benefits for workers across the country’s tea gardens.
According to the agreement, the wage increase will be effective from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025. Alongside the wage hike, provisions have been made to improve working conditions, increase productivity, and develop worker skills.
The accord was signed by representatives of Bangladesh Cha Sangsad (BCS) – representing tea estate owners, Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA) – the industry’s leading employer body, and Bangladesh Tea Estate Staff Association (BTESA) – representing staff employees in the tea sector.
“This agreement aims to balance fair compensation with long-term industry sustainability. In the face of global competition, we must work together to boost productivity,” said Kamran T. Rahman, Chairman of the BTA.
He added that collaborative efforts between owners and workers are vital for the future of the tea industry.
Md. Zakaria Ahmed, President of BTESA, praised the agreement, stating it would promote peaceful labor relations and improve productivity in the gardens.
“Fair wage growth, along with training and welfare support, will ensure better performance and satisfaction among workers,” he said.
Kazi Mozammel Haque, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Tea Workers’ Union, echoed the sentiment, calling the deal an important step toward strengthening worker motivation and ensuring sectoral stability.
“A fair wage structure directly contributes to better work outcomes and a more resilient tea industry,” he said.
Salek Ahmed Abul Mashrur, Senior Vice Chairman, BTA, Tahsin Ahmed Chowdhury, Convenor, BTA Labor Sub-Committee, Tapan Chowdhury, Union Sub-Committee Convenor, Selina Begum, Shyamal Kanti Das, and Md. Aminur Rahman, among others, were present on the occasion.
The tea industry, a key agricultural sector in Bangladesh, has often faced challenges around labor rights, low wages, and worker dissatisfaction. The new agreement is being hailed as a model of consensus-building that could lead to improved labor conditions, higher productivity, and greater industrial harmony.
HKJ
