The Debpara tea estate management in Jalpaiguri district announced suspending work in the garden on Saturday, leaving around 1,200 workers jobless.

Workers have demanded an urgent intervention from the state government to reopen the garden. The state labour department will convene a tripartite meeting on this issue on May 8.

“The siren didn’t blow at 6am on Saturday, unlike other days. We finally learnt that the management has announced suspension of work. This is undesirable at the start of the tea season,” said Rita Ekka, the unit secretary of Trinamul Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union in the garden.

Located in Banarhat block of western Dooars, Debpara has 1,196 workers.

Sources said that the garden’s sub-staff and casual workers were not paid for the past two months.

“We held talks with the representatives of the management and it was decided that sub-staff will receive one month’s salary on Saturday. Also, there are old PF and gratuity dues. But instead of paying the sub-staff, they closed down the garden,” said Rajesh Karki, a local Trinamul leader.

Rajesh Lakra, the Jalpaiguri district INTTUC president, visited the garden and spoke with workers and local leaders, assuring them of every help.

“We have asked the state labour department to take necessary steps to reopen the garden or else our union will launch a movement,” said Lara.

Later in the day, SubhagataGupta, the deputy labour commissioner of Jalpaiguri, said a tripartite meeting has been convened in his office on Monday to “discuss and resolve the impasse”.

“Whatever we have to say, we will say at the meeting,” said AmitangshuChakraborty, the principal adviser of the Indian Tea Planters’ Association. Debpara is a member garden.