Women in plantation sector and ‘Tea Day’
International days (I.Ds) are celebrated throughout the year. The
purpose of celebrating International days is to promote the life of
people, remind people of the human values which are forgotten due to
industrialisation and materialistic values, to enable people to think of
their fellowmen who are effected in some way or other, and thereby make
every person, every community and the every Government to be concerned
and be accountable partners of development and well-being of the whole
human society.
On December 15 the International Tea Day (I.T.D) is celebrated in Sri
Lanka, India and all tea producing countries. There are millions and
millions of people working in tea plantations in Sri Lanka, Asia and in
many tea producing countries.
Except in few countries, in most of the tea producing countries the
tea industry workers had lived like slaves. They were highly exploited
in the economic, social and in other areas of life including employment.
The women in the industry lived a sub standed life compared to women
in other sectors. No one can deny that although the plantation sector
still remains the backbone of economy of the country. The people living
within the sector remain a marginalized people and subjected to various
kinds of discriminations. In this backdrop international Tea Day was
declared on December 15, 2005 at the tea conference held in India, New
Delhi. The objective of this day was to bring the problems and issues of
the tea plantation workers at national and international level, to
ensure a fair trade practices in the industry, to built solidarity among
tea workers all over the world and also to stress for the importance of
safeguarding the industry in the interest of all stakeholders including
all tea producers specially the tea smallholders.
The celebration of the I.T.D during the last few years has built a
sense of brotherhood and solidarity among all tea workers in the world
and making them feel that they are not isolated within their countries.
I.T.D was declared by stakeholders who are interested in the future of
the industry and the welfare of the people working in it, but has still
not gained recognition of the United Nations (UN).
The day needs to be celebrated continuously nationally and
internationally and the relevant themes popularised in order to gain UN
recognition. And when the I.T.D is recognised by the UN the tea
producing countries including Sri Lanka would be required to pay more
attention in sustaining the industry and showing more concern for, women
and children who depend on the industry.
This year makes the fourth anniversary of the I.T.D. Plantation
Sector Social Forum had ensured the celebration of the day continuously
during the last four years. The general theme of the I.T.D is “Let us
ensure a living wage for the plantation workers”. In the year 2006 too
the same theme was highlighted and the Tea Day on December 15, 2006
coincided with the island wide work stoppage by the plantation workers
demanding wage increase through the collective agreement.
The I.T.D celebrated in 2006 December at Hatton in this background
drew more than 10,000 plantation workers which made the I.T.D popular
and known among the plantation people. The third I.T.D was celebrated at
Bandarawela. This year being the fourth anniversary the I.T.D is to be
celebrated at Nawalapitiya. Although the main theme of the I.T.D is to
ensure a living wage to the plantation workers, in order to popularize
the various clauses in the New Delhi declarations sub themes are
introduced every year. The theme for this tea day is “Let us promote
women’s leadership in the plantation sector”.
At this stage it is appropriate to look into some of the clauses of
the New Delhi declaration of the Tea Day with regard to women in the
sector.
In short the Delhi declaration stressed that the women’s views needs
to be recognised and respected and given due consideration. Violence
against women should be ended. Women’s reproductive right and other
rights need to be safeguarded. With the view to popularize these ideas
the theme for this year is defined as “Let us promote women’s leadership
in the plantation sector”.
In order to reduce violence against plantation women a clause
stressing the appointment of women over women workers had been
introduced into the collective agreement entered into few years ago
between the trade unions and employer’s federations. Provision of common
aminities in the working fields, facilities for women to receive their
own wages, improved environment for women where they would be protected
from sexual harassment and discriminations are matters that had been
agreed upon among the parties. But most of these agreements remain a
dead letter and constituent parties are conveniently avoiding to speak
about them. “Tea Day” with its theme to promote women leadership will
try to bring pressure on the relevant parties to implement these
agreements.
Further, in Sri Lanka there are policies and mechanism in place for
the development of women, safeguarding their rights and ensure their
security. None of these services or its benefits reach the plantation
women. Activating an advocacy program to ensure the Government’s women
welfare services reaching the plantation sector is the other objective
of celebrating Tea Day. In the meantime I.T.D is celebrated in India and
other tea producing countries and processes are under way nationally and
internationally to gain recognition for the Tea Day from the UN.
S. K. Chantrasekaran
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