Tuesday, July 26 2005 17:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: In a major victory for tea workers, the tripartite meeting among the management, unions of North Bengal Tea Estate and the West Bengal government resolved the impasse setting lesser tasks for the workers and increasing the productivity linked incentive.

Conceding in part to the workers' demands, the marathon meeting stretching upto near midnight decided that apart from providing an increased incentive, the standard tea estate tasking would be reduced.

Announcing this after the meeting, which followed a fortnight-long strike by the workers in the North Bengal Tea Estate, state Labor minister Mohd Amin said this was "victory" for over three lakh workers of North Bengal tea estate.

"We will pay all the arrears in a day or two. I congratulate the workers for continuing their struggle in a unified manner," he said.

The draft agreement was signed by three parties closed to midnight following which the 13 agitating unions withdrew the strike.

Amin said incentives had been fixed at rupee one as against the earlier 50 paise for six Kgs of plucking of tea leaves above the standard tasking of 24 kg.

The incentive for every KG beyond the six kg bracket had been fixed at Rs 1.50.

The meeting also decided that workers performing below average of 24 kg, would be fined rupee one per kg.

The new wage structures have been finalised at Rs 48.40 as against the earlier 45.90 per day. This would be paid from the last fiscal in retrospect, while the wages for the current and 2006-07 fiscals would be Rs 50.90 and 53.90 respectively.

General secretary of Darjeeling Tea Estate Workers' Association Benoy Chakraborty said it was a 'major victory' for the workers as their tasks have been reduced and incentives raised.

Tasks for the laborers have been affixed at the following reduced rates: for a five-day round a worker would have to do 40 per cent less plucking than the existing standard, for a six-day round it would be 30% less and for a 10-day and beyond round it has been reduced by 15%.