Can you imagine, at this time, someone's daily wage is only Tk117- 120?
Although it is difficult to accept this cruelty, this is the daily wage of the tea workers of our country.
As a result of rising commodity prices, garment workers are demanding a wage increase, although the minimum monthly wage for garment workers is Tk8,000.
Due to the rise in prices of essential commodities, demands for the increase in wages of garment workers are justified.
However, is there anyone who will talk about the inhuman life of tea plantation workers?
Tea plantation workers are also in a kind of compulsion because they have fewer opportunities to go into a different profession, and are rather forced to work in the tea gardens.
According to section 139 (2) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, the wage board is bound to send recommendations to the government within six months, but after more than one and half years of the formation of the board, the draft minimum wage recommendation was published in the gazette on 13 June 2021, and the wages of tea workers have been fixed at Tk117-120.
If we compare the wages of the tea industry with the wages of other industries are very low.
The daily wage of construction and wood industry workers is Tk620, and wages in other sectors are more.
So why are the wages of tea plantation workers so low?
Considering the current commodity prices, it is necessary to increase the minimum wage rate for tea plantation workers.
According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, the development of socioeconomic status of tea plantation workers and provision of social security falls under their jurisdiction.
To provide financial assistance to the tea plantation workers in times of emergency and enhance their status in the family and society, the government has taken steps to improve the quality of life of the tea workers.
According to the program, 50,000 out of the total 259,486 workers in 362 tea gardens will be provided one-time financial assistance of Tk5,000 every year.
However, this assistance may be more or less as per the government guidelines from time to time.
Improving the socio-economic status of tea plantation workers is not possible by providing assistance to only 50,000 workers, as a large portion of the workers are deprived of assistance.
However, most of the workers are appointed on a temporary basis.
Only the permanent workers always benefit from the quality of life development program for the tea plantation workers.
Usually, permanent tea plantation workers get rations, housing, provident fund and medical allowance, but temporary workers get nothing compared to that.
Not only low wages, but they also suffer from lack of adequate education facilities, health risks and housing problems.
Basic amenity crises
One of the major problems for tea plantation workers is the housing crisis.
Although permanent workers have accommodation, temporary workers do not get this facility.
On the other hand, these dwellings also do not conform to the standard.
Usually, a worker is allotted a 10.5X21ft house.
It is challenging to have such a small accommodation for the whole family.
Moreover, these houses are not disaster-resistant.
This increases the level of suffering during any natural calamity.
The lack of adequate and standardized sanitation facilities also poses various health risks to the workers.
On the other hand, according to Section 32 of the Labour Act, 2006, the residence must be vacated within 60 days of termination from employment.
Tea plantation workers have lived in tea gardens for generations, usually without a place to live.
Where will the tea plantation workers go if they lost their homes after the termination of employment?
Section 95 of the Labour Act, 2006, deals with the education and recreation of workers' children.
But only nominal educational institutions are provided, where the quality of education is not ensured in most cases.
Moreover, the children of the tea plantation worker's families are reluctant to study due to poverty.
The children of the family help their parents due to financial problems and do household work.
There is also a shortage of adequate educational institutions.
However, due to the current interest in education, the children of tea plantation workers are deprived of higher education due to lack of adequate financial capacity, the inadequacy of educational institutions and social attitude.
As per Section 95 (c) of the Labour Act, 2006, every tea garden should establish medical centres for workers and children.
But the harsh reality is there is a shortage of quality medical facilities in the gardens, which usually do not have life-saving medicine, and many gardens do not even have an ambulance service.
Tea plantation workers are also discriminated against during the holiday system.
According to section 117 of the Labour Act, 2006, factory, industrial and road transport workers get one day off for 18 days of work and newspaper workers get one day off for 11 days of work, but tea plantation workers are given one day off for 22 days of work.
In addition, a worker gets casual leave for 10 days at full wages per year, but tea garden workers do not get this benefit as per Section 95 of the Labor Act, 2006.
Considering the current price of commodities, the wages of tea workers should be increased soon.
Discriminatory provisions of the Labour Act, 2006 should be repealed and amended to ensure all opportunities like workers in other sectors.
In addition to increasing the salaries of tea workers, it is also important to set up adequate schools and hospitals under government initiative.
In addition, short-term and long-term projects should be undertaken to improve the living standards of the tea workers as well as ensure adequate housing facilities.
The author is a student of the department of law and human rights at the University of Asia Pacific