Raising tea workers' wage

Bangladesh is the 10th largest tea producing country in the world. Its tea industry dates back to the British rule, when the East India Company initiated tea gardens in 1850s in the hilly areas of the Sylhet region. The industry has come a long way since then, with the government now aiming production to reach 140 million kilograms of tea annually by 2025. Even though the tea industry in Bangladesh is around 170 years old, the daily wage of labourers at our tea gardens is not even Tk 170 at present. The current wage of a tea garden worker is Tk 120. The prices of daily necessities are skyrocketing day by day. They cannot buy two kilograms of rice with their daily income of Tk 120. How will they survive?
These workers pluck tea leaves under the scorching sun and get wet in incessant rain, yet they are still remaining victims of pay inequality, unable to meet their basic living costs. They are also struggle to get timely and good quality healthcare, access to clean drinking water, and provide their children with decent education. They are one of the least paid workers in the country. We urge the authorities concerned to help these workers get their demanded pay of Tk 300 per day because that is what they deserve.
Abu Elias Linkon,
Banasree, Dhaka,
lightening_sparkle@yahoo.com