The tea sector plays a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s economy as an important contributor to employment and export earnings. However, the sector faces numerous challenges, including among others, the rising cost of production, declining productivity, a minimum living wage for workers, an acute shortage of labour due to outmigration, effects of climate change, consumer demands for food safety, and growing competition from other tea-producing countries.
The future of the tea industry in Sri Lanka will depend on developing effective macroeconomic, trade and social policies to meet these challenges. Social dialogue and multi-stakeholder involvement, between the International Labour Organization’s tripartite constituents, relevant government ministries, the private sector and the workers’ representatives together with financial institutions and civil society is crucial if we are to achieve sustainable rural livelihoods and decent work in a vibrant industry.
1. Building sustainable rural livelihoods in the tea industry
For the tea industry to survive and grow, it is essential to increase productivity and profitability and to enhance the attractiveness of work in the industry. Improved productivity through skills development and adequate working conditions is key to the viability and attractiveness of the sector. While progress has been made, for example in terms of wage agreements and superannuation, there is much to be done in this area, particularly in terms of a satisfactory career path which recognises work experiences.
The transition to formality and access to quality public and private services, including social, financial and non-financial services such as health, education, utilities, public transportation, Information Technology, postal services, public administration, and to better housing and under-utilised land, could improve the attractiveness of rural areas and agriculture as a career, especially for young people. Furthermore, developing and improving workers’ entrepreneurial skills and competencies will be crucial to raising their incomes and living conditions, as well as the modernisation and viability of the plantations.
Developing rural infrastructure is essential to foster efficient rural labour markets, strengthen access to global markets and stimulate rural growth, including through business opportunities such as tea-tourism and diverse agricultural products that provide adequate incentives to workers involved. Alternative models of production and business incorporating technological advances such as digital payments should be considered, including smallholder companies, co-operative and other forms of social enterprises, skilled labour pooling and shared profits schemes. These alternative models must be in full compliance with fundamental principles and rights at work and labour legislation for all tea sector workers.
2. Building resilience and climate mitigation
The tea industry is particularly vulnerable to climate change and its impact – which is already visible and likely to intensify. Climate-smart agriculture, water conservation, reforestation and biodiversity practices need to be initiated to mitigate the impact of extreme climate conditions such as landslides, floods and droughts.
Targeted, well-coordinated interventions, involving tripartite constituents and other stakeholders are required to ensure that not only the plantation companies but also smallholders are equipped with the skills needed to implement best practices to adapt to climate change and mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
Environmental sustainability contributes to improved competitiveness, profitability and job creation. Climate change adaptation measures will create resilience, decent jobs and enhanced productivity if the tea industry seizes the opportunity for technological leapfrogging by introducing the latest and most efficient technology. The requirement for higher level skills may increase the attractiveness of the industry for youth, if they also provide opportunities for jobs and incomes at higher levels. In addition, certification schemes for environmental sustainability can be an effective measure to enhance ecosystem services and also contribute to decent work and productive employment.
3. Shifting dynamics and empowerment of women in the rural economy
Women play a crucial role in the tea industry in Sri Lanka; the vast majority of tea pluckers as wage workers both on plantations and smallholdings being female. In addition, often women are traditionally responsible for the well-being of the families, including the preparation of food and unpaid child and elderly care.
Women workers face multiple and intersecting challenges including lack of access to land and other productive resources, clean water, informality, discrimination, coercion, violence and harassment, low pay, long working hours, safe and usable toilets, and safety and health hazards. Women predominate in low wage and low status field work and are poorly represented in supervisory, clerical and management roles within the factory and the estate superintendent’s office. In order to promote equality and sustainable development, the tea sector should pursue initiatives that close gender gaps while also increasing competitiveness. There is evidence to show that providing women with the same access to social and productive means as men, results in significant increase in productivity. Digital payments to plantation workers for example, can derive multiple benefits for women.
Empowering women and girls requires changing gender norms through integrated approaches involving tripartite constituents and other stakeholders. Gender equality can only be achieved if women become equally entitled participants in decision making processes. Giving women a voice, at home and at work, is key to women’s empowerment. Through capacity building and development of a wide range of skills women workers can contribute more to their workplaces, communities and the country. The social protection afforded to women requires enhancement to effectively meet their needs over the life-cycle. Mechanisms should be established to redress complaints of discrimination, coercion and violence and harassment of women. Men should be encouraged to participate in responsibilities such as family work and the care of children and the elderly.
