Better deal for estate workers now than during colonial period
When the foreign agency companies ran the tea industry for more than a century ago little progress was made to improve the social welfare aspect of the plantation community. In 1992 the state nationalised companies were handed over to private companies which comprise 63 per cent to smallholders. Regional Plantation companies ( RPCs) comprise 33 per cent of the land. RPCs today have over a 165,000-workforce out of one million residents in plantation companies. “We have little control over non workers of the plantations to implement company planned projects,” said Bhathiya Bullumulla, Chairman Planters Association of Ceylon making the key note speech at the launch of “The Centre for Child Rights and Business” initiative held at the BMICH Colombo on Wednesday.
He said Sri Lanka’s plantation companies are working closely with the Centre for Child Rights and Business and communities to ensure shared goals outlined by the Centre for Child Rights and businesses. “We had to share our experience and insights of investing into mother and children welfare in the tea industry and invite stakeholders to join to make progress in this endeavour. RPC workers enjoy lifetime guarantees of employment up to 60 years with mandatory number of days for work. In 2019 medical facilities managed by the RPC were handed over to the state. But RPC’s work closely with the Ministries of Health and Education to implement programmes relating to social welfare standards. On estates we have 365 hospitals and 1400 child development centres to care for 2500 families,” he added.
Ms. Ines Kaempfer, CEO of the Centre, said their aim is to ensure that every child has access to rights to education, health and to be protected from abuse where the private has an important role to play.
Ms. Ahila Tiillainathan, Country Director of the Centre, said private businesses should provide assistance to women and children in the tea plantations by keeping the supply chain open to provide food and other requirements they need.