Tea Plantation Labour in India Probable base oulput(green leaf) Upto 400 kg. 401-800 kg. 801-1600 kg. 1601 kg. and above Incentive Minimum kg, 12 14 15 16 Ist Slab kg. 13to 15 165 to 20 16 to 30 17 to 35 2nd Slab 7.8 16to 30 21to 40 31to 50 36 to 60 3rd Slab kg, 31 and above 41 and above 51 and above 61 and above Over and above the minimum fixed for plucking an incentiveis given to the workers as per the following table: Incentive Rate 1st Slab 2nd Slab 3rd Slab Re 0. 27 per kg. Re 0. 35 per kg. Re 0. 40 per kg. SOURCE: Memorandum of Settiement under section 12(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 reached bofore the Joint Commissioner of Labour, Goimbatore (Re. No. Df7703/93/dated 16 August 1993). 12. Theworkersin the factory are eligible for overtime. Ifthe overtime extends upto three hours, they are paid additional wage for the three hours by computing the one hour wage by dividing the normal wage by eight. If the work extends beyond three hours they are engaged for the next eight hours and are paid double wages. Recruitment The number of permanent workers are ascertained by the total acreage of the estate. The stipulation for tea estate is one permanent employee for one acre of land, whereas in the case of a coffee estate it is one per’manent employefeor 1.25 acres of land, Vacancies arising out of retirement, voluntary retirement, death of employees, etc, are filled up BV?I'B{ year. While filling up the vacancies a pattern of priority is followed,; priority is given to the spouses of the permanent workérs, children of the workers, dependents of the deceased, etc, A convention and broad grsxderstanding operates in recruitment; trade unions abide by it: spouse lfr cent;. son and daughter 35 per cent; brothers and sisters 15 per cent; relatives 15 per cent. Recruitment is done with the above 106 Teq Plantation Labour in Tamil Nadu understanding in mind. However, there are several complaints regarding reeruitment from the workers. The workers contend that existing vacancies are not notified and the management at its own discretion appoints whoever it prefers. ‘ Work allotment is done by a supervisor. The field workers start work at 8 AM and they work till 5§ PM with a lunch break of one hour between 12 noon and 1 PM. The working hours for the workers in the factory are also the same, During peak seasons the field workers opt to go earlier to the field to collect more and thus get more incentive. During the lean season temporary workers_aré not given work unless the situation warrants it. But permanent workers are given some job or the other and engaged all through the day. ‘ Other Amenities, Annual Leave, Travelling Allowance and Bonus ' ' ' ' | All workers are entitled to avail four national holidays and five festival holidays. Permanent workers are entitled to 14 days of sick leave in a year, The worker is expected to take treatment in the company hospital or has to get treated elsewhere under reference from the company’s medical officer. Barned leave is computed based on the number of days . For every 20 days one day earned leave is credited to the worker's a t c h c e oun w t o . rker The has cred w i o t rke c d an be accrued upto 30 days beyond which it lapses. : : : Everjr permanent worker is éntitled to leave travel concession once ual fare (train/bus) to the native place. The. dependents of the empioyee a y a e r a e r. n H o e t /s e h l e igi is bl p e ai f d or ac a t ny leave travel concession, Annual leave travel batfa 15 paijd at the rate of Rs. 8 per day for the days one is availing of leave _travel. ' ­Bonus is paid at the rate of 20 per cent as per the agreement of the computed as 20 per cent of the total pay drawn by the worker in the precedin A g PA y . ear T . hi A s pa b r o t nu f s ro i m s the bonus, a lumpsum ex-gratia is paid to the workers, In 1994, a sum of one thousand rupees was paid to each permanent worker as ex—grafia. All permanent women workers are entitled to maternity benefits as 1 107