Tea workers demand new Wage Board

SREEMANGAL, MOULVIBAZAR, Aug 7: The Bangladesh Tea Workers' Union has demanded a revision of the minimum wage for tea workers, the formation of a new wage board, and the withdrawal of the existing provision for a 5 per cent annual increment, saying the current wage structure no longer reflects the rising cost of living.

The demands were made at a press conference held at the union's central office, Labour House, in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, on Thursday.

The programme was chaired by the union's Central Vice-President, Pankaj A Kando, while Acting General Secretary Nipen Pal presented a written statement.

Pal said the previous wage board had fixed an annual increment of only 5 per cent for tea workers, which he described as grossly inadequate amid soaring commodity prices and increasing living costs.

He called for scrapping the existing provision and formulating a new wage structure based on current market prices, the cost of living, and workers' minimum livelihood needs.

The union also urged the government to form a new wage board, noting that the tenure of the previous board had already expired.

According to the statement, the new board should determine wages by considering inflation, the physically demanding nature of tea plantation work, working hours, occupational risks, and the overall living conditions of workers.

Pal also said the government allocated Tk 5 million on Aug 4 to hold the long-delayed election of the Bangladesh Tea Workers' Union.

He urged the authorities to complete the election without delay to establish a democratically elected leadership for the organisation.

Citing poverty data, Pal said 61.9 per cent of tea worker families live below the poverty line, while 52 percent of the tea community experiences multidimensional poverty.

Given these realities, he said, the government should urgently revise the minimum wage to ensure a decent standard of living for tea workers.

Union leaders warned that workers would be compelled to launch protests if they were not ensured a fair wage and minimum living standards.

According to the Bangladesh Tea Board's annual report for fiscal year 2024-25, the country has 178 tea estates spread over 168,853 acres of land. Around 100,000 registered workers and more than 50,000 unregistered workers are employed in the sector.

Among others present at the press conference were the union's Organising Secretary and Balishira Valley President Bijoy Hazra, Finance Secretary Paresh Kalindi, Manu-Dhalai Valley President Dhona Bauri and Secretary Nirmal Painka, Sylhet Valley President Raju Goyala, Longla Valley President Saidul Islam, Central Vice-President Jesmin Akter, and other union leaders.