The second round of bipartite talks to fix the bonus rate for tea garden workers in north Bengal has failed.

During the talks which started on Monday in Calcutta, representatives of trade unions demanded a bonus of 19 per cent — similar to last year. On the other hand, tea planters expressed their inability to pay the bonus at a rate above 10 per cent.

Every year, the bonus is paid to over three lakh tea workers, along with the
staff and sub-staff, ahead of the Durga Puja.

Chinmoy Dhar, the chairman of the north Bengal branch of the Tea Association of India, said the planters had offered the bonus of 10 per cent while underscoring the loss that the industry suffered this year because of the inclement weather in the past few months.

“The trade unions, however, didn’t agree to it. It has been decided that another round of talks (third round) will be held on September 20 and 21 to resolve the issue. The trade unions have been told to ask the workers not to resort to any demonstration in the gardens during this period as it would hamper regular activities, including tea production,” said Dhar.

Usually, the bonus is paid around a fortnight or so ahead of the Durga Puja. A section of workers is apprehensive as to whether they will get the bonus ahead of the puja.