In Sri Lanka the relationship between management and workers is often strained. ETP and CARE International worked on a joint EU funded project that facilitated open dialogue between estate management and workers through Community Development Forums (CDFs) on 13 ETP-monitored estates in Sri Lanka.
Generating solutions
CDFs are ‘mini parliaments’ that are attended by various groups including estate management, workers, trade union officials and village representatives.
Together they discuss socio-economic issues, working conditions and the well-being of the estate and local community. Training programmes and practical improvements to estates have also been coordinated through CDFs:
- Gender training
- Negotiation skills training
- Work related training (plucking techniques)
- Household budget management
- Provision of créches
- New emergency medical kits
The outcomes
While the benefits for estate management includes increased productivity and far fewer conflicts with workers, CDFs have had a number of other benefits:
- Increased career opportunities for women
- More harmonious cultural relationships bewteen Sinhalese and Tamil groups
- Reduced alcoholism
- Improved household cash management
Career Opportunities for Women
Women are encouraged to take an active role in CDFs and this has led to them being treated on more equal terms both at work and in the community.
This is highlighted by Stonycliffe Estate appointing its first ever female Kanganis (supervisors of a tea plucking team), and the increasing number of women who collect their own wages.
Tackling Alcoholism
On Sri Lankan tea estates the brewing and selling of illicit alcohol (‘moonshine’) is not uncommon. This causes a number of problems ranging from taking money out of the ‘household purse’, to drunk and abusive behaviour.
CDFs have provided a platform to educate workers about alcoholism and to tackle it head on. For example at the Drayton Estate, the Manager through his association with the CDF has prevented the illegal sale of alcohol by offering such vendors fixed employment.
