Siliguri: Although the first ever negotiation on variable dearness allowance (VDA) for more than 2.5 lakh tea garden workers commenced in siliguri on Tuesday, the issue is likelyto remain inconclusive unless the government implements a minimum wage act.

As the issue cannot be sorted out in the absence of the main stakeholders-the tea garden owners represented by the consultative committee plantation Association (CCPA) – it was finally decided that tri-partite talks would be held to discuss the issue, in KolKata on September 16 and 17.

In the tea gardens of north Bengal, including 87 in the Dajeeling hills, only staff and sub-staff are entitled to receive VDA, while daily wage labourers receive a fixed daily wage of Rs 90.

In addition to daily wage, they get statutory benefits like labour quarters, firewood and subsidised rations