Tea workers stopped working over provident fund deductions

Workers at the Shamshernagar Kanihati Tea Garden in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar observed a work stoppage, protesting allegations that money for their provident fund was being deducted on a weekly basis and demanding the removal of the garden’s Panchayat Committee. 

The protest was held from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Thursday (August 20) in front of the Shamshernagar Camellia Hospital. Several hundred tea workers from the garden took part.

The protesting workers alleged that Tk 70 had previously been deducted from their wages each month for the provident fund. However, they claimed that for the past two weeks, money has been deducted on a weekly basis without providing the workers with any clear explanation or prior notice. This has created confusion and resentment among the workers.

Several workers said at the rally that the provident fund is an important source of financial security for their future. Therefore, if there is any change to the deduction system, workers should be informed beforehand, consulted, and provided with a transparent account of the entire process.

They said that replacing the fixed monthly deduction with weekly deductions has made the matter unclear to many workers. They demanded that the previous system of deducting provident fund contributions once a month be retained.

The protesters also alleged that the current garden Panchayat Committee has failed to take effective steps to protect the workers’ interests. They claimed that instead of providing satisfactory answers to workers’ complaints and questions, the committee has remained silent. For this reason, they also demanded the removal of the current garden Panchayat Committee.

Speakers at the protest rally said that imposing decisions concerning workers’ wages and savings without considering their opinions is unacceptable. 

Workers must be given a clear account of where, how, and under what rules their provident fund contributions are being deposited. They called for the authorities concerned to intervene quickly to resolve the confusion over the deductions, retain the previous monthly system, and address the workers’ concerns about the lack of transparency and trust.

Several attempts were made to contact Pratap Rikiason, president of the Kanihati Tea Garden Panchayat, by phone regarding the matter, but he did not answer the calls. As a result, his statement regarding the protest and the workers’ allegations could not be obtained.

Meanwhile, the garden’s normal operations were disrupted due to the workers’ work stoppage. The workers said that if a prompt, effective, and acceptable decision is not made regarding their demands, they may announce stricter programs in the future.

-SS/MT