8 months ago
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Workers of a beverage plot successful northbound Bengal staged protests demanding a bonus up of Durga Puja. The protests were held by workers of the Nagaisuri beverage plot successful Jalpaiguri territory connected September 26 and 27, who sought 20% of their wages arsenic bonus. Police resorted to a baton complaint to disperse the protestors.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari connected Sunday shared a video of the constabulary enactment connected societal media, and said that the crackdown was without immoderate provocation connected the unarmed beverage workers.
“Under Mamata Banerjee’s misrule, the State’s beverage workers person ever been deprived. Mamata Banerjee goes to northbound Bengal and makes large promises to the beverage workers, but they bash not adjacent get their rightful due,” Mr. Adhikari said.
The workers of Nagaisuri beverage plot had called disconnected their agitation aft absorption assured them that the bonus would beryllium paid successful 3 instalments. West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Banerjee had announced that beverage plot workers would person 20% of their wages arsenic bonus successful the festive play of 2025.
“We got the archetypal instalment of the bonus connected Sunday (September 28). Had the workers not protested, they would not person gotten immoderate bonus. This is due to the fact that we are acquainted with the way grounds of the management,” said Kirsen Kharia, cardinal committee subordinate of Paschim Banga Cha Majoor Samity (PBCMS), a national of beverage plot workers. Mr. Kharia added that the absorption had provided lone fractional of the bonus truthful far, with the remaining magnitude promised successful 2 instalments.
Emphasising that a bonus is not foundation but a statutory close nether the Payment of Bonus Act, PBCMS said successful a property connection that the situation reflects a larger signifier of exploitation by the Merico-Sammelan group, which runs 12–13 gardens successful the region.
“In astatine slightest 9 of these gardens, workers are suffering pending wages of 2 to six months, portion the absorption has deducted Provident Fund contributions for 2 to 3 years without depositing a azygous rupee successful EPFO. This is simply a transgression breach of spot and a brazen theft of workers’ hard-earned money,” the connection said.
