Darjeeling Tea Workers To Receive Higher Bonus

Kolkata: Nearly 60,000 workers employed in 87 tea gardens in Darjeeling district of West Bengal will get higher bonus for 2006-07. This follows an contract between the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), the body of Darjeeling tea planters, and over half a dozen unions controlling these workers. The rates at which the bonus will be paid are as follows: Group A gardens will pay at the rate of 12.6 per cent for 2006-07 compared with 12 per cent in 2005-06. The corresponding figures for other groups are: Group B 11.6 per cent (11.05 per cent), Group C 10.6 per cent ( 10 per cent) and Group D 9.25 per cent (nine per cent). Darjeeling has a total of 87 gardens, of which DTA had authorisation for bonus agreement from 67 gardens, including 16 in Group A, 17 in Group B, 19 in Group C and 15 in Group D.