Bonus row sparks fresh unrest in north Bengal tea gardens

The annual Puja bonus for tea garden workers has triggered a fresh wave of unrest across north Bengal. Workers and trade unions — including the ruling-party-backed Trinamul Cha Bagan Shramik Union (TCBSU) — are pressing for the state-mandated 20 per cent bonus ahead of Durga Puja but accuse many garden managements of stalling payments.

The state government had issued an advisory (Memo No. 1420/Addle./SLG, dated 22/08/2025) asking planters to pay a 20 per cent bonus to workers for 2024–25 before 15 September. With the deadline over, several trade unions have launched protests alleging non-compliance.

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On Thursday, the Bharatiya Tea Workers’ Union, led by Alipurduar MP Manoj Tigga, demonstrated at the Additional Labour Commissioner’s office in Siliguri and set a 20 September ultimatum.

“If the management fails to pay the bonus by 20 September, we will launch a bigger agitation. The state government will be responsible for any untoward incident,” Mr Tigga warned.

Meanwhile, the TCBSU’s general secretary has written to the West Bengal chief secretary, flagging that although 105 tea gardens in the Dooars and Terai have complied, 46 in the Dooars and 40 in the Terai have yet to pay the 20 per cent bonus. “This non-compliance has already sparked protests and could escalate further. We seek immediate intervention to ensure payment as per the advisory,” the letter said.

In another development, Nagrakata MLA Puna Bhengra lodged a police complaint against five tea gardens for non-payment of the declared bonus. He reminded authorities that the chief minister had officially announced a 20 per cent bonus and tasked the chief secretary with ensuring compliance. “If the labour commissioner does not act immediately, I will take to the streets. The State Government will be fully responsible for any untoward incident,” Mr Bhengra cautioned.

Observers note that the government’s early advisory was intended to pre-empt last year’s confrontations over bonus payments. However, insiders say it has also created new complications. With bipartite negotiations fragmented, local leaders of various unions — including TCBSU — reportedly struck separate deals with garden managements. Some managements have opted to pay only 12% upfront, promising the remaining amount before Christmas, while a group of companies has reportedly proposed paying just 9 per cent.

Political observers say the issue has eroded TCBSU’s influence in the plantations at a sensitive time, with the 2026 Assembly elections approaching. Both the union and its central leadership have expressed deep concern over the growing unrest among workers and the possibility of the bonus row snowballing into a larger political flashpoint.