Centre will take up issue of minimum wages in tea gardens

Commerce and Industries Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Monday said the central government will take up with the states the issue of implementation of minimum wages in tea gardens.

"There have been reports that minimum wages fixed for the tea gardens have not been implemented. We are going to take up the matter with the concerned state governments soon and the issue will be resolved," Sitharaman said while interacting with journalists after emerging from a meeting of stakeholders of the tea sector here.

She said that while some states have already taken up the matter, others have not.

While the notified wage of a tea garden worker in Assam is Rs.184 per day, they are mostly paid only Rs.95 per day as wages, besides some other non-cash components like rations.

The minister also said that the Centre will ensure implementation of all the major flagship projects of the government in different sectors like health and education in the tea garden areas so that the tea workers get the benefit of these centrally funded projects.