News item
Paving the Path to sustainability - Decent Work in the Tea Smallholder Sector in Sri Lanka
The ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives facilitated a validation workshop where the findings of a rapid assessment study on the State of Decent Work in the Tea Smallholder (TSH) sector in Sri Lanka
2 August 2018
The ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives facilitated a validation workshop where the findings of a rapid assessment study on the State of Decent Work in the Tea Smallholder (TSH) sector in Sri Lanka was presented in Colombo on Wednesday, 1st August. Thirty-five participants representing the Ministries of Labour & Trade Union Relations, Plantation Industries, Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, as well as the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Ceylon Workers’ Congress, tea smallholders societies, regional plantation companies (RPCs), academia, and civil society organizations attended.
Professor Mohamed Esham, Dr. Rohitha Rosairo, and Dr. A. W. Wijeratne of Sabaragamuwa University presented their findings after fieldwork in 10 districts in the Low-Country, Mid-Country and Up-Country, which was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Commissioner-General of Labour, Mr. R. P. A. Wimalaweera. The panellists comprised Mr. B. Vasanthan - Senior Assistant Secretary Foreign Relations, Ministry of Labour & Trade Union Relations; Mr. K. L. Gunaratne - Chairman, Sri Lanka Federation of Tea Small Holdings Development Societies; Mr. Prasad De Silva - Assistant Director General and Head of Plantation Services, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon; and Mr. Roshan Rajadurai - Managing Director, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC and Kelani Valley Plantations PLC.
From left to right:Mr. Prasad De Silva, Assistant Director General and Head of Plantation Services, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon; Mr. B. Vasanthan, Senior Assistant Secretary Foreign Relations, Ministry of Labour & Trade Union Relations; Mr. R. P. A. Wimalaweera, Commissioner General of Labour, Mr. Roshan Rajadurai, Managing Director, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC and Kelani Valley Plantations PLC and Mr. K. L. Gunaratne, Chairman, Sri Lanka Federation of Tea Small Holdings Development Societies The study identified key challenges faced by smallholders and provided forward-looking recommendations to address them as well as identifying new opportunities for growth of decent work and better incomes. The shortage of labour stemming from an ageing labour force and the disinterest of youth in entering the industry was highlighted for immediate attention. This challenge is common to both the plantation and smallholder sectors. Gender discrimination in the smallholder sector was noted in the areas of wages and land ownership. The study also pointed to climatic factors as a threat to the sustainability of the industry.
As the TSH sector contributes 70% of overall tea production in Sri Lanka and provides direct employment to more than twice as many as those working on Regional Plantation Companies, this study is particularly timely and relevant, and its comprehensiveness was appreciated by the participants.
Professor Mohamed Esham, Dr. Rohitha Rosairo, and Dr. A. W. Wijeratne of Sabaragamuwa University presented their findings after fieldwork in 10 districts in the Low-Country, Mid-Country and Up-Country, which was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Commissioner-General of Labour, Mr. R. P. A. Wimalaweera. The panellists comprised Mr. B. Vasanthan - Senior Assistant Secretary Foreign Relations, Ministry of Labour & Trade Union Relations; Mr. K. L. Gunaratne - Chairman, Sri Lanka Federation of Tea Small Holdings Development Societies; Mr. Prasad De Silva - Assistant Director General and Head of Plantation Services, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon; and Mr. Roshan Rajadurai - Managing Director, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC and Kelani Valley Plantations PLC.
From left to right:Mr. Prasad De Silva, Assistant Director General and Head of Plantation Services, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon; Mr. B. Vasanthan, Senior Assistant Secretary Foreign Relations, Ministry of Labour & Trade Union Relations; Mr. R. P. A. Wimalaweera, Commissioner General of Labour, Mr. Roshan Rajadurai, Managing Director, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC and Kelani Valley Plantations PLC and Mr. K. L. Gunaratne, Chairman, Sri Lanka Federation of Tea Small Holdings Development Societies The study identified key challenges faced by smallholders and provided forward-looking recommendations to address them as well as identifying new opportunities for growth of decent work and better incomes. The shortage of labour stemming from an ageing labour force and the disinterest of youth in entering the industry was highlighted for immediate attention. This challenge is common to both the plantation and smallholder sectors. Gender discrimination in the smallholder sector was noted in the areas of wages and land ownership. The study also pointed to climatic factors as a threat to the sustainability of the industry.
As the TSH sector contributes 70% of overall tea production in Sri Lanka and provides direct employment to more than twice as many as those working on Regional Plantation Companies, this study is particularly timely and relevant, and its comprehensiveness was appreciated by the participants.