Tea Estate Workers and Children on the Estates

It is, of course, entirely possible that a sharing of my first-hand experiences may even help you all enjoy your tea more than before and without any pangs of guilt. I would, in fact, go a step further and request that you read this article with an open mind, factoring in the positives which I am highlighting, since every sip of tea you take actually boosts employment.

Along with a concern for the workers' welfare, there is also heightened interest about children working on tea estates. I had one particular instance where, while driving an American guest around an estate in Upper Assam, the lady saw a couple of children plucking leaf. She had me stop my jeep, then she hopped off and got into a long and very animated discussion with the children.

While the discussion was accompanied by plenty of wise nodding of heads and lots of very energetic arm-waving from both sides, it was apparent that neither had a clue what the other was saying. I stood  aside, watching the "show" with great amusement, before stepping in as a translator. The answer was so simple and so logical that -- besides satisfying her curiosity -- it actually had the lady smiling right through the evening in the bungalow. Should she be reading this article, I'm sure the memory will bring that smile right back. What I shared with my visitor follows at the end of this article.

When raising the issue of the conditions of estate workers (so that one does not go off on a tangent) it becomes necessary that this issue be looked at in correct perspective. After all, it would hardly be fair to expect the condition of estate labour -- whether in tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom, or any other plantation crop which comes out of the less-developed countries -- to be at par with farm workers in Europe or North America. The bottom line is that within a particular environment anywhere in the less-developed countries, the conditions of estate workers would be found to be much better than labour in any other industry within the same geographical area.

In India, all plantations are covered by a legislation called the "Plantation Labour Act," under which the estate management  provides, albeit a little rudimentary, cradle to grave support which includes:

• Housing (a housing unit per family) which is maintained by the estate management.

• Each housing unit includes some area for a kitchen garden.

• The estate management provides cooking fuel (firewood/LPG is the norm).

• Subsidized rations (rice and flour). 

• Drinking water (The maximum distance allowed for the tap/pump from each house is defined).

• Street lighting in the labour housing colonies. While not mandatory, some estates have started providing electricity to each individual house.

• Adequate roads and drainage within each labour line (that is what a housing colony is called).

• Primary schooling, where -- besides education -- the children are provided books and uniforms as well as a wholesome midday meal. 

• Protective clothing: Umbrellas, waterproof aprons, shoes, or chappals (a type of sandal), etc.

• Complete health care with a hospital (number of hospital beds per capita is defined) staffed by proper doctors and nurses (again defined per capita).

• Should a worker/dependent require specialized care, it is the responsibility of the estate to send them to a specialist hospital where such care can be provided.

• An equipped labour club where workers have access to basic entertainment with things like a television, some indoor games, etc.

• Paid maternity leave.

• Pre- and post-natal care.

• An annual bonus ranging from 10% to 20% of a worker's annual basic pay, subject to the estate's profitability during the year.

• Gratuity on completion of service.

• Usually when a worker retires, the vacancy created is filled by providing work to one of his/her dependents.

While the list goes on, I am sure the above will give you a picture of where plantation labour stands as compared to others. Add to this list the fact that on most estates there is plenty of fallow, low-lying land which is not suitable for tea or the other plantation crop. Such land is handed over to the workers to farm. The usual crop is paddy or, as in Sri Lanka, vegetables. Whatever the workers produce on "their" land, they sell to earn extra income.

And now on to that "children-related incident" I mentioned at the start of the article. 

Despite all the amenities provided, and despite that the fact that estate workers children should be attending school every day, if one were to visit any tea estate anywhere in the world, one would always see children plucking alongside their parents. The reason why the children are there is straightforward and innocent (and this is all first- hand experience talking) that the explanation actually brings a smile to the face. I saw that smile!

On a tea estate, against the daily wage paid, a norm is set whereby workers are required to harvest a pre-defined quantity of green leaf per worker per day. Anything over the defined norm is considered to be "over kilos" for which workers are paid an incentive on a rising slab system. The "over kilo" system is such that the incentive per extra kilo increases considerably with each higher slab. 

And what does this lead to? Simply this: during the heavy "flushing" season, children finish school, play truant, take holidays, or come to deliver food to their parents. At every possible opportunity, the children pitch in to fill up their Mum's plucking basket, and so help the family earn more. The kids love acting grown-up and pitching in with their small might. A far cry from being a case of "working children!"

While I hope to be a regular contributor to Tea Digest, and will share my tea experiences as we go along, should any reader like me to address any particular tea-related issue, you're welcome to email me.

Copyright © 2006 by Indi Khanna. All rights reserved.

Thirty years of tea experience at the grassroots level enables Indi Khanna and Tea 'n' Teas to offer teas, direct from source, delivered to your doorstep at prices which are sure to make you sit up and take notice.