Assam: Tea workers stage sit-in protest at Fatemabad estate over unpaid dues

Workers at Fatemabad Tea Estate in Salbari, Assam staged a sit-in protest demanding the immediate release of their pending wages. 

 

Located in Bahbari, near the Manas river, the estate office witnessed throngs of demonstrators who accused the management of exploitation and negligence.  

 

Chants against the estate administrator, Rajesh Jalan, echoed through the air as workers alleged that their rightful wages and bonuses remained unpaid. According to protestors, the estate management has withheld seven weeks' wages and failed to disburse a 12 per cent bonus. Staff and sub-staff have also reportedly gone without salaries for an extended period, compounding the financial strain on the workforce.  

 

Protestors claimed that the management has long discontinued the supply of essential rations and failed to provide medical facilities for workers, staff, and sub-staff. 

 

The protests come in the wake of an unfulfilled promise made during a December 26 meeting in Mushalpur, Baksa, which involved the Labor Department, estate authorities, local administration, and workers' unions. During the meeting, the estate management assured the disbursal of two weeks’ wages by the following Saturday, a commitment that remains unmet.  

 

Workers have accused the management of deepening their hardships by neglecting their basic needs, including food, clothing, and healthcare. The growing unrest highlights the urgent need for accountability and intervention to resolve the crisis at Fatemabad Tea Estate.