Jhapa, November 12:

According to the previously announced protest programme, tea estates workers today locked up the Birtamod-based main office of the Nepal Tea Development Corporation, in Jhapa.

Workers said that the management did not provide them the wages (Rs 95 daily) promised according to an agreement reached between the government, Nepal Tea Production Union and Tea Workers’ Unions, and as such they had called the strike. They also alleged that the committee tried to take away their livelihood by padlocking the tea estates.

Three tea workers’ unions have announced a five-day-long protest programme. After locking the office, the workers staged a chakkajam. Addressing a street corner meeting, Nepal Tea Estate Workers’ Union chairman Shanta Kumar Rai and All Nepal Tea Estate Workers’ Union coordinator Chandra Sapkota said that the protest will continue until wages are provided as per the agreement. They also said that the protest would continue until tea estates open.