Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS) General Secretary Rupesh Gowala said that the union had demanded payment of the maximum rate of bonus to tea garden workers of Assam three weeks ahead of the Sharadiya Durga Puja, as has been done in previous years.
Accordingly, the union had submitted a demand to the tea garden owners’ associations through letter No. A/3/2026/162-23 dated August 25, 2026, seeking payment of the maximum possible bonus to workers.Following discussions between representatives of tea companies and leaders of the Assam Tea Mazdoor Sangha, several major tea companies have entered into agreements to pay a 20% bonus to their workers as of September 21, 2026.
Among the multinational and major tea companies that have signed 20% bonus agreements are McLeod Russel India Limited, with 31 tea gardens; APPL (Toklai), with 21 gardens; Goodricke Group, with 14 gardens; M.K. Shah Exports Limited, with 14 gardens; Luxmi Tea Company Limited, with 13 gardens; Dhunseri Tea Company, with nine gardens; Gillanders Arbuthnot & Company Limited, with six gardens; Russell Tea India Limited, with seven gardens; and companies such as Jorhat Tea Company Limited, Shri Vasuprada Plantations, and Madhuting Tea Company, each having four tea gardens. M.K. Jokai has six gardens, while Asian Group Tea Company has two gardens.
Meanwhile, branch unions under the central organisation have locally signed agreements with most privately owned tea gardens for payment of the maximum 20% bonus. These include Koloni Tea Garden, Uphaliala Tea Garden, Megha Tea Garden, Krishna Bihari Tea Garden, Bajalani Tea Garden, Badulipara Tea Garden, Bokakhat Tea Garden and Holonguri Tea Garden, among others.The ACMS general secretary also said that a few companies have expressed their willingness to pay this year’s bonus in two instalments.
Gowala expressed hope that bonus agreements with the remaining companies would also be signed within the next couple of days. He appealed to the remaining tea garden managements to come forward and take the necessary steps to sign agreements so that, in accordance with the union’s demand, all tea garden workers receive the maximum rate of bonus before the Durga Puja celebrations.
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