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 election, Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday (January 3, 2026) promised higher wages for tea garden workers if they come back to power in the State.

The TMC leader also addressed issues of healthcare in tea gardens during an outreach program in north Bengal’s Alipurduar, with tea garden workers. 

“I agree that it is not possible to run a household on $250… when Didi forms the government for the fourth time, my first priority will be Alipurduar… I will ensure that your daily wage is increased to ₹300 per day,” Mr. Banerjee said while answering a question posed by a tea garden worker. He further added that if they come back to power in the next term, they will implement this promise of a higher wage within seven days of forming the government. 

When the TMC government came to power in 2011, the tea garden labourers had a daily wage of ₹67, which was increased to ₹250 over the last three terms of the TMC rule, Mr. Banerjee said. However, he said that ₹250 is not enough to fulfil basic needs when inflation is so high. 

Workers also raised pertinent questions about creches and medical facilities within the tea gardens to help workers sustain their lives and access basic support to continue work. These issues have been at the forefront of many tea garden movements over the years and have dominated election promises across party lines. 

Talking about the demands of creches for working mothers to keep their children for ease of work, the TMC MP said that out of the 90–95 crèches that were planned, 34 are operational and promised to get the others up and running in the next two years. 

“We had promised 54 Public Health Centres (PHC), out of which 14 are operational. There is a shortage of doctors in our state, but we are trying to address it,” Mr Banerjee said while addressing the issue of healthcare in the tea gardens. He added that many others associated with their party have also raised this issue with him a few months back. 

Mr Banerjee said that he will raise the issue of creches and PHCs in Kolkata in front of senior party leaders and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

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

“PF is your right; no one is doing you a favour. It must be deposited… If needed, I will arrange a meeting of a delegation of 20 people with the Union Labour Minister. I will even go to Delhi. Until you fight for your money, it will not reach you…” Mr Banerjee said while addressing the issue of PF delays and non-payments raised by workers during their interaction with the leader.