Bengal polls: Will increase tea garden workers’ daily wages to ₹300 after we form govt., says TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee

Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday (January 3, 2026) promised higher wages to tea garden workers if they come back to power in the state.

The TMC leader also touched upon sanitary issues in tea gardens during an outreach program with tea garden workers in north Bengal’s Alipurduar.

“I agree that it is not possible to run a household on $250… Didi “When I form the government for the fourth time, my first priority will be Alipurduar… I will ensure that your daily salary is increased to ₹300 per day,” Banerjee said while answering a question asked by a tea garden worker, adding that if they come to power in the coming term, they will fulfill this promise of high wages within seven days of forming the government.

Mr. Banerjee said that when the TMC government came to power in 2011, the daily wage of tea garden laborers was ₹67, which was increased to ₹250 in the last three periods of TMC rule. However, he said that with inflation so high, £250 is not enough to meet basic needs.

Workers also raised pertinent questions about nurseries and medical facilities within the tea gardens to help workers sustain their lives and access basic support to continue working. These issues have been at the forefront of many tea garden movements over the years and have marked the election promises of different sections of the parties.

Referring to the demands of nurseries for working mothers to take care of their children for ease of work, the TMC Deputy said that 34 of the planned 90-95 nurseries have become operational and that they have promised to put the others into operation in the next two years.

While touching on the health problem in tea estates, Mr. Banerjee said, “We had promised 54 Public Health Centers (PHCs), of which 14 are operational. There is a shortage of doctors in our state, but we are trying to address it.” He added that many people associated with his parties conveyed this issue to him a few months ago.

Mr. Banerjee said he would raise the issue of nurseries and health centers in Kolkata before senior party leaders and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“Employee Provident Fund (KMF) contributions have been deducted from salaries, but the employer has pocketed this money. Employers’ PF contribution has also not been deposited since May 2023. Old, sick workers are not paid gratuity and are forced to work on vouchers… This is nothing but killing the workers slowly,” said a tea garden workers’ association. They are protesting against harsh working conditions and irregularities in PF transfer and salary payments in Alipurduar.

“PF is your right; no one is doing you any favors. It needs to be deposited… If necessary, I will arrange a meeting with the Union Labor Minister with a 20-member delegation. I will even go to Delhi. The money will not reach you until you fight for your money…” Mr. Banerjee said while addressing the issue of PF delays and non-payment that arose during workers’ interactions with the leader.