Accountability Counsel Joins Organizations in Open Letter Calling on Brands to Improve Wages of Tea Workers in Assam

Accountability Counsel joins civil society organizations concerned about labor rights issues on tea plantations in Assam in signing an open letter to coincide with TEAM UP 2016, a conference on tea and sustainability taking place in London on June 14, 2016. The letter is targeted at brands and retailers purchasing Assam tea and expresses concern about ongoing litigation in the Guwahati High Court, which continues to prevent the Assam Government’s proposed revision of the minimum daily wage for tea workers. The civil society organisations call on purchasers of tea from Assam estates to, firstly, ask any of their suppliers backing the litigation to withdraw their support, and secondly, review their own purchasing practices to enable the payment of the updated minimum wage at their supplier tea estates in Assam. “These pro-active steps are critical to developing a road map for a living wage for tea workers in Assam.” You can read the open letter here. We invite you to read more about our work supporting tea workers in Assam here.