Sylhet tea workers begin work stoppage, demanding Tk500 daily wage, union election

Tea workers at 23 plantations in Sylhet have begun a two-hour work stoppage indefinitely, demanding that their daily wage be increased to Tk500, an immediate election for the Bangladesh Tea Workers’ Union, and the fulfilment of two other demands.

The work stoppage began yesterday (26 August) and continued today (27 August).

The workers said the programme would continue until their demands are met.

Their other two demands are the cancellation of the 2023 gazette and the recognition of their land rights.

Tea workers have been demonstrating for around a month, demanding a daily wage of Tk500, cancellation of the gazette issued in 2023, an election for the Bangladesh Tea Workers’ Union, and land rights.

As part of the ongoing movement, workers at every plantation in the Sylhet Valley began an indefinite two-hour work stoppage from Wednesday, from 9am to 11am.

Workers at all plantations in the valley, including Malnichhara, Lakkatura, Burjan and Khadim, are observing the programme.

Earlier, on 9 August, tea workers held a procession and rally in Sylhet and submitted a memorandum to the district administration outlining their four-point demands.

They had given the administration 15 days to take steps to implement the demands, warning that workers at 23 plantations in Sylhet would announce tougher programmes if the government failed to act within the deadline.

As the deadline passed without their demands being met, the workers began the two-hour work stoppage, they said.

Ajit Ray Barik, a worker at Malnichhara Tea Garden and president of the central committee of the Tea Workers Unity Centre, said, “At present, a tea worker’s daily wage is only Tk187.

In today’s circumstances, it is simply impossible for a family to survive on this wage and have two proper meals a day.

That is why the workers have taken to the streets with the demand for a daily wage of Tk500 and four other demands. The movement will continue until these demands are met,” he said.

Saidul Rahman Sohel, a worker at Burjan Tea Garden, said the long delay in holding elections to the tea workers’ union had resulted in committees being run by acting officials at many plantations.

“This is hampering efforts to establish workers’ rights. Therefore, we demand that the tea workers’ union election be held as soon as possible,” he said.

Raghu Das, a worker at Lakkatura Tea Garden, said, “We are currently observing a two-hour work stoppage every day. If our demands are not met, we will begin a continuous work stoppage.”

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun said the workers’ memorandum had been forwarded to the relevant authorities.

“One of their four demands is the election of the tea workers’ union. The process of organising the election is under way. The Finance Ministry has allocated Tk50 lakh for the election, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment will organise it soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, on 14 August, senior leaders of the Tea Workers’ Union met Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury over their demands.

During the meeting, the tea workers’ leaders formally handed the minister a memorandum containing eight demands concerning workers’ rights, land ownership and improving their standard of living.

Minister Ariful Haque said a special investigation team would be formed by the Labour Ministry to examine the realities of tea plantations on the ground.

He said the government would decide on further measures after reviewing the team’s report and holding discussions with all relevant stakeholders.