Assam Tea Planters' Association: Jorhat

Ref. NO. G.7/ 6314, 564,

The 28th February,  1966.

To

All members Tea Estates,

Assam Tea Planters' Association,

Sub:- Labour  Wage, under Wage Board Agreement:

       The coy of the agreement reached on 25-2-66 in respect of Labour Wages for period of 5 years form 1-1-66 for tea estates in North East India is reproduced below for information.

                                                                                                  SD/-S.N. Phukan

                                                                                                   Secretary

North East and North India.

1. On and form 1-1-66 the Wages in all areas:

(a) Under present Excise Zone-V ( Nowgong, Mangaldai, Kamrup and Goalpara) for gardens of over 150 acres will be increased as under:-

Men ...             ...   16   paise 

Women...         ....   13   paise

Children ...       ....    8    paise

(b) Gardens of below 150 acres in present Zones V (refered to above) and II (which include Dooars, Darjeeling Hills, Nowgong, Mangaldai, Goalpara, Kamrup) will increase as under:-

Men ...           ...      13   paise

Women ...      ...       10   paise

Children...      ...        7    paise

(c) For gardens in all areas under Present excise Zone I (which includes Cacher, Cooch Bihar, Tripura, Terai)  Will increase as under:-

Men   ...                    10  paise

Womwn  ...                 7   paise

Children   ..                 5   paise

The gardens within 10 miles area of Dimapur will pay Cachar Wages according to the unanimous recommendations of the special Sub- Committee of the Standing Labour Committee of Assam, provided, however, that no reduction form the present wage rates will be made.

2. On and form 1-4-66 the wages in all the above areas will be increase by a further 2 paise for men, women and 1 paise for children, so that the increase over the current wages is :

(a) Men                    ...               ...       18 paise

     Women                    ...                ...  15 paise

     Children                   ...                ...   9 paise

(b) Men                   ...                 ...      15 paise

     Women                   ...                 ...  12 paise

     Children                    ...                 ..  8 paise

(c) Men                   ...                 ...       12 paise

    Women                  ...                 ...      9 paise

    Children                  ...                 ...     6 paise

    The above wages shall correspond to the figure of 170 points on the All India Consumers price Index

3.a)  The wages with the above increase shall continue up to 31-3-1967 when :-

   b) On the basis of the average All India Consumers price Index for the year 1966 the wages in all districts shall increase by 0.4 of a paise per  point of increase over 170 increase, in any one year.

4.  If there is any excess over 16 points increase in 1966 or in any subsequent calendar year up to a ceiling of the 200 points stage in the Index, the same will be carried over for compensation in the following year starting form 1st April at the same rate.

5.  Such upward revision may continue up to 31-3-70, on the  annual basis at the rate mentioned in Parah 3(b) if however, the cast of living increases over 200 points there will be no further compensation until 31-12-1970. when the parties will enter into fresh agreement for a further period thereafter.

6. The parties agree to discuss on a regional basis the question of upgrading the selling price of cereals with corresponding  cash wage increases

7. Monthly rates workers other than Clerical and Medical Staff will be granted 26 times the rate of increase of the daily rated worker per month with effect form 1-1-66 as increased wages for the various region, until finalization of  new scales, discussion for which will take place in March 1966

8. Clerical and medical Staff will be granted with effect form 1-1-66 increases over their existing cash emoluments at double the rate of increase of  the monthly rated workers until finalization of new scales, discussion for which will take place in March, 1966

9. The existing system of piece rates particularly plucking rates will  continue but may be revised by  agreement  between employers and labour, so that the worker with normal diligence will earn at least the fair wages now agreed in a day of 8 hours work.

10. Workers agree to discuss with employers in different regions the adjustment of the cold weather takes in such a way that the same may be done by a worker of normal diligence in 7 to 8 hours. Any such adjustment should only be by mutual agreement.

11. In North India Districts of Kangra, Utter Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Ranchi the wages shall be increased by 10 paise for men and women and 5 paise for children linked with the stage of 170 in the All India Cost of Living Index. The existing differentials will continue. Further increase will be on the basis of 76 paise compensation per point of increase subject to a limitation of paying compensation up to the stage of 200 points in the index for the period of agreement i.e. up to 31.12.70.

12. It is recommended that here after State Governments should not take action to alter wages under the Minimum Wages Act during the currency of this Agreement i.e. until 31.12.1970, with the exception that the West Bengal Government be requested to cancel the clause in their  Minimum Wage Notification of 1959 regarding variation on the dearness allowance.

                   Sd/- J. Bhuyan                                                                                                                       Sd/-  B.C. Ghose,            

                   25.2.1966                                                                                                                                 25. 2. 1966