(a) whether the Assam Labour Plantation Act, 1951 has not been implemented by the Tea companies in Assam since inception;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to protect the interest of the tea labourers in Assam?
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI K. CHANDRASEKHAR RAO)
(a): The Plantations Labour Act, 1951 is being implemented by the Tea companies in Assam.
(b): In view of (a) above question does not arise.
(c): As per the information received from the State Government of Assam, the State Government has issued instructions to timely rectify irregularities as pointed out in the inspection reports; prosecuting the recalcitrant plantation employers in the Courts of law; implementing decisions taken in the tripartite-level annual meetings of the State Housing Advisory Board, the State Medical Advisory Board, the State Education Advisory Board, and the State Standing Labour Committee of plantation workers, and in the quarterly meetings of the District-Level Committee for monitoring the progress of implementation of the Plantations Labour Act, 1951, to safeguard the interests of the plantation workers.