Assam Tea Unrest Deepens With Jorhat March Over Alleged ATC Layoffs and Hatijan Work Halt

Overview

• Hundreds of Assam Tea Corporation workers marched in Jorhat on Wednesday, demanding withdrawal of an alleged plan to cut permanent posts and restoration of replacement jobs for dependents.
• Protesters submitted a memorandum to the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner, the Labour Minister, and local MPs seeking immediate intervention.
• Operations at Hatijan tea estate remain stopped after workers began a boycott on November 4, with management declaring a lockout on November 8 following the dismissal of six staff.
• Estate management says the six were terminated after an internal inquiry into an alleged assault on the manager in 2024, while the ACMS unit insists reinstatement is needed to resume work.
• Two conciliation meetings in Dibrugarh on August 7 and November 3 ended without resolution, and ACMS and ATTSA warn of wider protests as workers also press for wage hikes, land pattas, and criticize welfare rations as inadequate.