Time to move estate workers out of plantations

The rightful place for the estate workers is in the towns and not in the estates, a key government official said recently highlighting the plight of the Indian origin people employed in the plantations in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda, chief guest at the 163rd AGM of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon held on September 22 at the Galadari Hotel said that the rightful place of plantation workers is in the towns and not in the estates.

He explained that this indentured labour was under Sri Lanka colonial masters and added that the tea industry would see an emancipation of workers.

It was pointed out that the result of social strife in the plantations was because the young people do not see a future for them there.

Dr. Pethiyagoda without mincing words clearly highlighted the negligence of these workers who have a hard time to fall in line with the ways of the normal life due to the social issues they face in the plantation.

Highlighting statistics to explain the case for workers, the chairman noted that one out of every 10 children were abused by the age of 10. Moreover, about 86 per cent of men had homosexual encounters. About 17 per cent of the girls had illegal abortions. Only 3 per cent of 18-23 year olds had completed their Ordinary Level examinations. Further, 80 per cent of the 18-23 year olds have not heard of condoms, clearly spotlighting the social problems these people face even today.

“Plantation workers’ household is different where children are exploited,” he said and asserted that “There are still a lot of things you cannot do for them.”

Planters Association Chairman Sunil Poholiyadde highlighted that the tea industry expects a 20 per cent drop in tea production on a national level in the wake of the issues faced by the sector on bad weather and ban on glyphosate, the low-cost weedicide.

He explained that the industry has to find new innovative ways for re-planting with less cost and added that they would need to commence discussions on the new wage structure to pay based on productivity and revenue sharing.

Mr. Poholiyadde noted that the terms in the lease agreement would have to be worked out in view of the diversification of crops and the fact that this decision need to be taken by the board and management.

Moreover, he pointed out that the rubber plantations were impacted in the low country in view of the very high rainfall with less tapping days resulting in rubber becoming uneconomical.

Commenting on the move towards oil palm production, a crop considered highly lucrative, the Planters Association Chairman noted that unfortunately there have been several issues linked with the planting of this crop.

“I was informed that several companies have got directives not to diversify and plant other crops,” Mr. Poholiyadde said adding that due to certain petty issues the industry would face a problem in future.

The AGM also created a forum to a highlight the land acquisition issues faced by the RPCs complaints of which the PA Chairman noted he had been informed of where large lands in the south were to be acquired for cultivation. It was pointed out that about five companies had received notices to acquire about 6000 hectares of land.

He noted that they needed to address this issue seriously and that there would be no commitments from shareholders if no return on investment was achieved.

During the AGM the long term serving Secretary General Malin Gunatilleke stepped down from his office with Lalith Obeysekere taking over.

I was informed that several companies have got directives not to diversify and plant other crops