Abstract
This paper explores the important question whether trade certifications alleviate the economic and social deprivations of workers in tea plantations in India. Following a critical assessment of the historic deprivations faced by tea plantation workers, the author reviews the potential implications of various certifications adopted by tea plantations in India, including, Fairtrade (FT), RFA, ETP and Trustea. As a case for empirical analysis, the paper specifically examines FT certification and its impacts on tea plantation workers with particular reference to three certified tea estates located in the Nilgiris region in Tamilnadu (South India) and Assam (North-East India). The analysis endorses many of the findings of earlier studies on Fairtrade certification. Yet, it also provides very useful additional insights in terms of explaining why the adoption of certifications, especially FT certification, by tea plantations does not yield the intended outcomes with respect to amelioration of the deprivations suffered by the plantation workers. It reveals that, despite more than two decades of engagement with FT certifications, tea plantations are unable to make significant improvements in the lot of the plantation workers due mainly to the fact that the FT premiums that the tea estates receive are nominal and quite variable across years. It concludes that, given that the domestic consumption demand for tea has been growing in India, it is also crucial to focus on the domestic market through the design and promotion of appropriate certification standards (integrating the finest elements of existing ones) that would contribute towards improving the status as well as working and living conditions of plantation workers. This would also help mitigate the huge disparity in wages and earnings of workers between the south and north Indian states that emerge from the study.
Highlights
This paper has attempted to explore the important question whether trade certifications alleviate the economic and social deprivations of workers in tea plantations in India
Following a critical assessment of the historic deprivations faced by tea plantation workers, we have reviewed the potential implications of various certifications adopted by tea plantations in India, including Fairtrade (FT), Rainforest Alliance (RFA), Ethical Tea partnership (ETP) and Trustea
The assessment of the various certifications being adopted by the tea plantations indicate their potential influence in terms of addressing the historic deprivation and marginalisation of plantation workers at the aggregate level
Summary
Workers in Assam are very poor with highly vulnerable socio-economic conditions and waiting for the whole month to receive the wages may further worsen their condition While this would need further empirical validation in terms of analysis of wages, earnings and poverty scenarios among the tea plantation workers in Assam vis-à-vis Tamilnadu, it emerges from the assessment that plantation workers in Assam are highly deprived in terms of lack of education, lack of technical skills, and lower wages and earnings. This is further illustrated by the fact that the majority of the women workers in Assam are illiterate (83.5%) in comparison to Tamilnadu (24.6%) and all plantations (54.4%).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
