Tripura hikes tea garden workers’ wages to Rs 204

The Tripura government has revised the minimum wage for tea garden workers, increasing it from ₹176 to ₹204 per day for adult workers, Labour Minister Tinku Roy announced on Friday. 

The wage for minor workers has also been raised from ₹88 to ₹102.

Speaking at a press conference, Minister Roy noted that the last wage revision took place in January 2018, when the rate was raised from ₹105 to ₹176 for adults and ₹52.50 to ₹88 for minors.

“In view of persistent demands for a wage hike, the state government constituted a 10-member committee under the chairmanship of Swapna Das Pal, MLA from the 46-Surma Assembly Constituency,” Roy said. The committee, formed for a six-month term, was tasked with evaluating all aspects of the wage structure in the tea garden sector.

The panel held its first meeting on May 28, where it examined various socio-economic parameters before recommending a 16 percent increase in the minimum wage.

“Based on the committee's recommendation, the government has approved the revised wage rates of ₹204 for adult workers and ₹102 for minor workers,” the minister said.

Roy also highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives to improve the quality of life for tea garden workers. “Unlike in the past, when workers had to manage everything on their own, the present government has ensured access to essential facilities like housing, electricity, water, and sanitation through various welfare schemes,” he stated.

Under the PM Awas Yojana and other social welfare programmes, 6,595 tea garden worker families have received support, including 3,166 families who were allotted land pattas over the past six years. The remaining families are expected to receive land rights soon. Additionally, 4,922 families have been issued priority group ration cards.