Meeting Held with Director of Tea Development to Discuss Workshop on Labour Codes & Safety in Tea Industry

A productive meeting was held with Shri S. Soundararajan, Director of Tea Development, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, at his office in Kolkata. The meeting, arranged at short notice with the support of the ESIC team at Grant Lane, focused on a significant proposal aimed at strengthening awareness and compliance in the tea plantation sector.

During the discussion, a comprehensive proposal was presented to organize a Workshop on Safety, Health, Social Security, and Labour Laws for stakeholders in the tea plantation industry. The proposed workshop is designed to benefit workers, supervisors, contractors, and employers across the North Eastern states of India.

As part of the proposal, Tripura has been suggested as the preferred venue, with Guwahati, Assam as an alternative location. The workshop is envisioned to be conducted in collaboration with key institutions, including industry bodies, government departments, and employers’ associations. Local partners are expected to manage logistics such as venue arrangements, participant coordination, and event execution, while the organizing body will facilitate national and international expert speakers along with awareness and publicity initiatives.

This initiative gains added importance in the context of the implementation of new Labour Codes by the Government of India, making it highly relevant for regulators, employers, trade unions, and academic institutions.

A detailed concept note outlining the objectives and structure of the proposed workshop has been submitted for consideration. Additionally, a public awareness poster on safety and hygiene in workplaces was presented, emphasizing the importance of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices within the industry.

Further coordination is expected with key stakeholders to take this initiative forward, with a positive response anticipated in the coming days.