Jorhat, Sept. 13: The process of payment of bonus to tea garden workers in Assam seems to be progressing smoothly so far with six companies and over 10 individual gardens declaring bonus at the maximum rate of 20 per cent.

The central office of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) in Dibrugarh has received letters from six companies and over 10 individual gardens announcing the bonus. The union, in its customary letter to all the five major tea planters' associations last month, had demanded the bonus at the rate of 20 per cent to be paid before Durga Puja.

The union sought that the quantum of bonus be announced and paid - at one go - three weeks ahead of Puja. Some gardens in the past years have paid the bonus in two instalments, with the second one paid in January the following year or before Holi, which usually falls in March.

ACMS general secretary Dileshwar Tanti told The Telegraph from Dibrugarh today that the process of payment of bonus was moving ahead well with several companies and individual gardens submitting their balance sheets and computation statements for the previous fiscal year (2015-2016) to the union.

Tanti said among the six companies that have declared bonus at 20 per cent were M.K. Shah Exports Ltd with 11 gardens, Andrew Yule and Company Limited (a central government PSU) with 10 and Jalan Tea Industries Private Limited with five gardens.

The ACMS leader said except Jalan Tea Industries, all the companies have agreed to pay bonus in one go. Jalan Tea will pay 15 per cent before Puja and the rest before Holi. He said Andrew Yule was yet to inform its mode of payment with representatives of the company scheduled to discuss the matter with the union later this week.

Tanti said the largest producer of tea in the world - McLeod Russel with 49 gardens in Assam - is expected to announce its bonus by this week after holding discussions with the union and similarly, Dhunseri Tea Company with 10 estates, Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited - formerly Tata Tea - with 21 gardens, too, are scheduled hold discussions with the union later this week.

Tanti said over 10 gardens have sent letters to the union announcing 20 per cent bonus with most of the gardens agreeing to pay in one go. He urged the government to declare bonus at 20 per cent in Assam Tea Corporation Limited with 19 gardens - a state government PSU.

In the past three years, the Congress government had declared 20 per cent bonus for the debt-ridden corporation gardens.

The Assam Branch of Indian Tea Association last month urged the union to consider payment of bonus to workers in two instalments citing poor cash flow.

Last year, there was trouble in a few Amalgamated Plantations Private Limited gardens after the company, initially refusing to pay 20 per cent bonus citing losses, later announced to pay in two instalments which the workers opposed.

Dispur is yet to set the deadline this year for the tea industry on bonus payment.