In a stern warning to defaulting tea garden managements, the West Bengal government has issued a one-month deadline to clear pending provident fund (PF) and gratuity dues.
State Labour Minister Arjun Singh even warned that failure to comply with this directive would invite legal action, including FIRs and possible imprisonment.
The stern warning came after two rounds of meetings at Uttarkanya in Siliguri with officials, tea garden representatives, public representatives and trade unions.
Addressing reporters, Singh said the government has directed officials to initiate FIRs against tea garden managements that continue to default on statutory payments to workers. He said owners who fail to clear PF and gratuity dues within the stipulated time would face strict action.
“The government will not tolerate denial of workers’ legal dues. Those who do not comply with the law will have to face legal consequences,” the minister said.
Singh said the government is preparing a new policy to revive and strengthen the tea industry. According to him, the proposed policy will focus on two priorities, increasing revenue and protecting employment.
The minister claimed that the previous state government had introduced an SOP that, according to him, allowed certain influential groups to retain control over tea gardens and facilitate the sale of tea estate land for private gain. He also alleged that some tea gardens and factories were even operated illegally for profit.
During the review meeting, Singh expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as negligence and delays by some government officials. He said even the exact number of closed tea gardens could not be confirmed, with different departments providing different figures.
According to him, around 30 tea gardens are currently closed, while some illegally operated gardens may not have been reflected in official records.
The minister instructed officials to improve coordination and maintain accurate records. He also said the government would take a decision on the issue of minimum wages for tea garden workers.
Later, Singh held a separate meeting with trade unions and appealed to them to cooperate in ensuring the healthy functioning of the tea industry.
Referring to migration, Singh said the decline of traditional industries has forced many workers to leave their occupations in search of jobs elsewhere. He cited the jute sector as an example, saying many former jute cultivators have become migrant workers.
The minister said the government is working to reopen closed tea gardens by facilitating new ownership wherever possible.