Tea workers across the country have been staging demonstrations for more than a month making for four demands, including a daily wage of Tk 500.

Nearly three in four mothers working in Bangladesh's tea gardens are psychologically vulnerable or unwell, a new study finds, worn down by starvation wages, wage theft and a second unpaid shift at home. The toll does not stop with them. Researchers found the majority of their young children already show signs of emotional and behavioural distress.

Bangladesh’s tea industry is passing through a critical phase. Auction prices have strengthened significantly; the hike in the minimum auction, or floor price, last year has added a new dimension; and demand for quality tea remains strong.

BAPI, Chevron Bangladesh and Pandughar Group will provide the raincoats for workers in Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj

Bangladesh’s tea estate workers remain among the country’s most deprived, but new generations are breaking those barriers

Tea garden workers in Sylhet division remain largely indifferent to voting, citing decades of neglect and unfulfilled promises by elected representatives.

Malnutrition grips tea workers, especially women, as wages fall short of basic food needs

The tea workers demanded Tk 30,000 in arrears for 20 months in line with the hiked wages that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked tea garden owners to pay in August last year

Historically, the tea industry in Bangladesh has been standing on the backbreaking labour of tea garden workers

“I didn't think I could come this far,” said a beaming Horibol Bonarjee, a student of Moulvibazar Government High School, who passed this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday (September 3, 2022) greeted the tea workers from the core of her heart for the bangles they gifted her during their visit to Gono Bhaban.

Tea workers may not have had their demands fulfilled, but their united voice brings in a new era of workers' rights.

Tea estate owners in Bangladesh yesterday said they suffered losses of up to Tk 20 crore per day during the recent 18-day protest by estate workers as significant amounts of tea were wasted for the work abstention. 

After a 15-day work abstention, tea workers resumed work for a daily wage of Tk 170 yesterday morning.

Tea workers have expressed mixed reactions to the daily wage set at Tk 170, following a meeting between tea garden owners and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

The daily wage of tea workers has been fixed at Tk 170. Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus briefed the media after a meeting of tea garden owners with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Basanti Bauri, 40, of Moulvibazar works for a renowned tea estate as a “plucker”. Her day starts at 5:00am sharp. After paying homage to the family deity, she prepares food for her three children and husband.

Hundreds of tea workers blocked roads for hours at multiple points of Moulvibazar yesterday, the 12th day of their work abstention, to press home their demand for a daily wage of Tk 300.

Many tea plantation workers continued their protest yesterday, disregarding their union leaders’ agreement on the withdrawal of ongoing strike demanding pay hike.

In the best interests of the tea sector, tea garden owners and government functionaries should promote true trade unionism.