Darjeeling MP Raju Bista spoke on the three bills on the labour code during the Monsoon Session-2020 at the Parliament, on Tuesday. Bista stated that bills will finally entitle the workers to Wage Security, Social Security and Health Security after 73-years of independence.
The MP maintained that the bills will provide coverage to around 50 crore workers from both organized and unorganised sectors, as compared to only around 10 crore workers who were covered earlier. Among other things, these bills ensure the following important guarantees for all workers:
• Fixed Minimum Wage Rate
• Wage payment on time
• Equal pay for male and female workers
• Annual health checkup for all workers
• Annual paid leave for all migrant workers
• Entitlement to collect ration at a place of work for all migrant workers
• Pension for both organized and unorganized sector employees
• Quicker disbursal of workers’ issues through a tribunal
• Increased Employees Insurance (ESIC) coverage and free treatment at ESIC Hospitals
• Uniform floor wage rate across the country, and more
These provisions will have an immense impact on the tea garden and cinchona garden workers from our region.
Bista further added that the tea garden workers will be entitled to receive 85% of their wages in cash, and the plantation owners can only deduct 15% as in-kind payment. Given that currently around 50% of tea garden wages are deducted as in-kind payment, these codes will ensure that the tea garden workers will be entitled to a much higher wage, than the current rate of Rs 176/-
There is a provision in place that enables plantations to join Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) as of which these workers will be entitled to get better financing social security and health insurance scheme.
MP Raju Bista maintained that the codes will eradicate the exploitation of workers, which had continued from the British Raj. He claimed that the laws will bring in a new wave of safety, security and prosperity for all the workers across the country.
He further added that he has urged the government to bring in Plantation Workers Rights Act new legislation, on the lines of Forest Rights Act (2006) to guarantee Parja Patta rights for the tea garden and cinchona garden workers.
With this, the Darjeeling MP Raju Bista took a sarcastic jibe at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, saying that the Hills are not smiling, but instead has turned into a graveyard.