Siliguri, July 12 -- The West Bengal government today issued a one-month deadline to defaulting tea garden managements to clear pending provident fund (PF) and gratuity dues, warning that failure to comply would invite legal action, including FIRs and possible imprisonment.
State Labour Minister Arjun Singh announced the decision after holding two rounds of meetings at North Bengal secretariat, Uttarkanya in Siliguri with officials, tea garden representatives, public representatives and trade unions.
Addressing reporters, Singh said the government had directed officials to initiate First Information Reports against tea garden managements that continue to default on statutory payments to workers. He said owners who fail to clear PF and gra...