Darjeeling, 11th March: The Joint Forum (Hills), a conglomeration body of different trade unions, has decided to launch various programmes from the month of March regarding the demand for minimum wages to be implemented within this year among the tea garden laborers.
In addition to this, the JF is also demanding that the puja bonus negotiation meeting start during the period of the first flush. Sunil Rai, JF (Hills) spokesperson, stated that a meeting was conducted today where various issues concerning the tea gardens were discussed.
The demands include the implementation of minimum wages by 2020 and also that parcha patta (land lease) be given to tea garden workers. The body has decided to hold gate meetings in all tea gardens on March 23 and 24 in which they will make the tea garden workers aware of their programmes and accordingly plan out their future moves.
The Joint Forum (Hills) is also demanding the re-opening of closed gardens without any condition along with other problems, including foliage problems in Dhotrey-Kalej valley and the need to provide health care services under the Health and Scrutiny Acquisition Bill.