Archive · 6 Oct 2026
North Bengal Tea Workers Protest for 20% Bonus
Tea workers in North Bengal are asking for a bonus equal to 20 per cent.
On Tuesday, workers protested in several tea-growing areas.
Some demonstrations included blocking roads, which slowed traffic for a while.
Some tea gardens say they cannot afford to pay the full amount.
In earlier negotiations, workers at different gardens received bonuses of between 10 and 17 per cent.
The state government has advised gardens to pay 20 per cent, but its next decision is still pending.
Police stepped in at some protest locations.
The payment deadline was 5 October, and workers and garden managers are awaiting further action.
Tea workers staged protests across the Dooars and Terai on Tuesday, demanding a 20 per cent bonus.
Demonstrations took place at Nimiti, Chinchula, Sonegachi and tea gardens in the Banarhat area.
Some workers blocked national highways, briefly disrupting traffic.
Some gardens say financial difficulties make paying the full bonus challenging; past settlements ranged from 10 to 17 per cent.
The payment deadline was 5 October, and the government has not announced a final decision on its advisory.
- Who
- Tea workers and tea garden managements in North Bengal.
- What
- Workers protested, demanding payment of a 20 per cent bonus.
- When
- Tuesday; the bonus payment deadline was 5 October.
- Where
- The Dooars and Terai regions of North Bengal, including the Banarhat area.
- Why
- Workers are seeking the 20 per cent bonus advised by the state government, while some gardens report difficulty paying the full amount.
Workers’ demand
Management concerns
Bonus amount
Workers’ demand
Workers are demanding payment of the full 20 per cent bonus.
Management concerns
Some tea garden managements say financial weakness makes it difficult to pay the full 20 per cent.
How the dispute may be settled
Workers’ demand
Workers have protested and blocked roads in some places to press their demand.
Management concerns
Past payments at some gardens were settled through bilateral negotiations, resulting in bonuses below 20 per cent.
- Bonus demanded
- 20 per cent
- Protest day
- Tuesday
- Areas reporting protests
- Dooars and Terai
- Named protest locations
- Nimiti, Chinchula, Sonegachi and the Banarhat area
- Previous bonus settlements cited
- 10, 12, 15 or 17 per cent, depending on the garden
- Payment deadline
- 5 October
- Government decision
- A final decision on the 20 per cent advisory has not been announced.