All the tea estates and factories based in the eastern region have, regrettably, downed their shutters for an indefinite period. Since August 3, the All Nepal Tea Estate Workers’ Association, Nepal Tea Estate Workers’ Association and the Nepal Independent Tea Workers’ Union are pressuring the managements to fulfil their 21-point demands, including a minimum wage of Rs. 5,000 per month, Dashain bonus, and provision for Provident Fund. However, the members of the Tea Producers’ Federation think that the demands can be met only if the government gives ‘discount on income tax, VAT, fertilizers, electricity tariff and loans.’

As the disputants have failed to hammer out an amicable settlement, the government’s intervention has now become imperative. The labour unions, the workers and the managements will also have to shed their rigid postures and strike some sort of a compromise. Although the labour unions’ demand is for Rs. 5,000 as minimum monthly wage, they may be well advised to accept the rate fixed by the government for factory workers all over the country i.e. around Rs. 3,000. But the entrepreneurs’ demand for various types of discounts does not appear so very justifiable because all the other industries would also have to be given similar concessions. As Nepali tea is world

famous and in great demand, there is no point arguing tea export constitutes a reliable spinner of revenue for the country besides being a major taker of manpower resources within the country. The vast potential can be realised only if, at least, the reasonable demands are fulfilled.