Jorhat, Jan. 11: The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha has demanded that all tea growers' associations in the state direct their respective member gardens to pay wages to workers at the increased rate of Rs 137 with effect from January 1, 2017, as per the bilateral agreement signed between the ACMS and the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA), Assam Valley branch, on February 26, 2015.

In its executive meeting held today, the ACMS decided to organise a protest on January 19 by taking out a procession from the gardens in support of its several demands, including implementation of the last phase (a hike of Rs 11) of the bilateral three-year pact between the union and the CCPA, Assam Valley branch.

The CCPA is the apex body of all teaproducers' associations in the country. Its Assam Valley branch is represented by five teaproducers' associations of the state - the Assam Tea Planters' Associations, Assam Branch Indian Tea Association, North Eastern Tea Association, Tea Association of India and the Bharatiya Chah Parishad.

ACMS general secretary Dileshwar Tanti told this correspondent from Dibrugarh today that in view of reports that a section of the gardens are not paying wages at the rate of Rs 137, he would write to all the five tea planters' organisations to ensure implementation of the agreement.

As per the bilateral agreement, inked on February 26, 2015, with retrospective effect from January, 1, 2015 till December 31, 2017, the daily wage of workers was to be hiked from Rs 94 by Rs 43 to be done in three years. The hike in the first year (2015) was at the rate of Rs 21 and by Rs 11 each to be done in next two years (2016 and 2017).

Tanti said he had already asked all the 22 branches of the union across the state to take up the matter withthe garden managements who were not implementing the agreement.

He said the other demands for organising the proposed protest were continuation of providing weekly ration (wheat and rice) at subsidised rates to the workers.

He said the gardens, since January 2016, had been buying food stocks from open market at much higher prices than earlier times after the Centre reportedly withdrew the quota allotted to the industry under which the gardens could procure the ration at a subsidised rates from local FCI godowns.

Tanti said there is speculation that the gardens might stop providing ration. If this happens abruptly without any alternative, it may lead to a law and order situation, he added.

Another demand of the ACMS is continuation of the system of paying wages in cash to workers till all gardens get ATMs and workers are made aware of operating ATMs and managing their bank accounts.

The ACMS, affiliated to Intuc, is the oldest and largest tea workers' union in the state having its central office in Dibrugarh and is the only union recognised by the tea industry in the Brahmaputra Valley where over 90 per cent of the estates are located.