Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha is leaning on tea garden owners to pay out a 20 percent bonus. They want the cash in workers' pockets three weeks before Durga Puja. Rupesh Gowala, the union's general secretary, filed the formal request on August 25, 2026, under letter number A/3/2026/162-23.
Big companies are already biting. Agreements were signed by September 21. McLeod Russel India Limited leads the pack with 31 gardens, followed by APPL with 21. Goodricke Group and M.K. Shah Exports each cover 14, while Luxmi Tea Company covers 13. Others on the list include Dhunseri Tea, Gillanders Arbuthnot, Russell Tea, Jorhat Tea, Shri Vasuprada Plantations, Madhuting Tea, M.K. Jokai, and the Asian Group.
Local branches have locked in deals for private estates, too. Koloni, Uphaliala, Megha, Krishna Bihari, Bajalani, Badulipara, Bokakhat, and Holonguri gardens are all on board. Some companies want to pay in two installments. Gowala remains hopeful that the holdouts will fold soon. He said, "I appeal to the managements of the remaining tea gardens to come forward and complete the agreement process so that, in accordance with the union's demand, all tea garden workers receive the maximum 20% bonus before the Durga Puja celebrations."
Comments