Lean management to replace feudal model on tea estates to improve revenues

The age-old feudal work structure on tea estates still in existence since time immemorial has to improve productivity and welfare of workers, a new research revealed. In this regard tea estate labour unions need to work regularly with plantation companies, policy makers and workers in consultation with ex-planters to push for more welfare facilities for the people they represent and increase productivity, Verite Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan De Mel stated when he unveiled the findings of the research study. The research was commissioned by Virakesari of Express Newspapers aimed at improving the livelihoods of the majority Tamil speaking workers on the plantations.

Wage negotiations have been at a deadlock since 2015, it was pointed out adding that wages incentivise attendance but the structure adopted in estates was not motivating workers to increase productivity. He also observed that the workers should be given a career path that would ensure a plucker could move up the ladder as a supervisor or manager who are at present employed from outside the estates. It was noted that with most estate workers’ children getting educated and most of them could be provided jobs in the clerical grades of the tea estate factories or companies without these positions being outsourced.

Read the full story