New Working Hours Implemented for Tea Garden Workers Amid Heatwave

Rescheduling of Working Hours

Dibrugarh, June 14: The State Government's Labour Welfare department has announced a change in the working hours for tea garden employees, shifting from the previous schedule of 8 am to 4 pm to a new timeframe of 6 am to 2 pm.

This adjustment comes in response to the soaring temperatures and an increase in heatstroke incidents. Recently, tea garden management and laborers across most plantations reached a consensus to modify the working hours to prioritize health and safety amidst the heatwave.

Almost all tea estates in the area have already adjusted their working hours to lessen the effects of the extreme heat on workers.

Nabin Chandra Keot, the Dibrugarh branch secretary of the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), stated that workers have been encouraged to start their shifts as early as possible to complete their tasks by noon.

“All ACMS garden units are instructed to oversee the working conditions of the laborers, especially during the hottest parts of the day. They must ensure that workers are not exposed to the sun for extended periods. Most tea garden employees are now heading home by 2 pm after working from 6 am,” he explained.

It is crucial to note that outdoor laborers, particularly those in tea gardens, face significant health and safety risks due to their working environment, which includes exposure to extreme heat, long hours of standing, and a lack of drinking water facilities.

Given the hazardous conditions for outdoor workers, emergency services, including ambulances and medical response teams, are on standby in all gardens. There have been reports of workers collapsing and experiencing discomfort while on duty, but measures are being taken to address these incidents promptly, as noted by Lakheswar Tanti, the Moran branch secretary of ACMS.