Representatives of tea planters’ associations and trade unions held a virtual meeting on Tuesday to decide on the rate of annual bonus that would be paid to the workers in the Terai and the Dooars ahead of Durga Puja this year.

Last year, workers had been paid the bonus at the rate of 18.50 per cent.

At the first round of talks on Tuesday, the unions sought bonus at 20 per cent rate. No decision has, however, come from the tea planters who have sought more time and insisted on further talks.

The next round of talks will be held on September 18.

“We have demanded bonus at 20 per cent rate and in addition, cash awards should be given to the workers who had gone beyond their call of duty and worked consistently during the Covid-19 pandemic. We hope tea planters will accept our demand,” said Mannalal Jain, the vice-president of the Cha Bagan Trinamool Congress Mazdoor Union.

According to senior trade unions leaders and tea planters, this is probably the first time in the history of the tea industry that the bipartite meeting on bonus was held on a virtual platform. Trade union leaders and representatives of planters’ association joined the meeting from different locations in the state.

In course of the meeting that started at 12 noon and continued till 5.30pm, the trade union leaders elaborated on their demand and mentioned that the bonus was of the last fiscal (2019-2020).

“During this period, there was neither any lockdown nor any loss in production. The prices at auctions were steady. There is no reason why the industry cannot pay bonus at a higher rate than last year,” said an INTUC leader in Siliguri.

Sanjoy Bagchi, secretary, Dooars Branch of Indian Tea Association, said: “The meeting was held in a congenial atmosphere. But both the sides need to discuss some more issues before a decision is reached. That is why another round of talks will be held on September 18.”