Around 500,000 tea garden workers have gone on strike in West Bengal from Monday demanding discussions on a wage agreement and increase in salaries.

Major tea workers' unions, including Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), and some Leftist unions, are supporting the strike.

Around 700 tea gardens remained closed Monday, according to reports.

The unions claimed the tenure of the last wage pact ended March 31, 2003, but there had been no increase in their salaries.

They demanded an increase in daily wages from the current level of Rs.45.90 and threatened to go on an indefinite strike from July 11 if their demands were not met.

West Bengal's tea industry is already facing a tough time in the international market due to higher production costs.

Industry circles feel if the workers go on an indefinite strike, the situation would worsen.