Abstract:
Tea is the most important item to earn foreign currency. Bangladesh covers 2% of
world tea production which earn US$25000000 every year. In Bangladesh there are 163 tea
gardens. Most of the tea gardens are in greater Sylhet. In tea garden human rights of the tea
laborer are being violating every day. In Bangladesh wage pattern of laborers in other sector
is more or less satisfactory. The objectives of the study was to examine the social state
including wage pattern , education, health, housing, family planning activities & sanitation
of the tea garden laborers as well as to understand the economic conditions – livelihood
pattern, income of the tea garden laborers. Both qualitative and quantitative method was used
to conduct the research. Before data collection we discussed with management and tea
laborer union about their wage pattern and livelihood. The study was conducted with the help
of structured questionnaire. Mixed methodology was followed in our study. In this study
78.99% of total laborers of the research garden were interviewed. Key findings are as
follows:
Length of service of 50.8% respondents is above 41years. 26.60% respondents are of 3-4
years. But wages are same at all age level. 36.9% respondent are illiterate, 13.5% have
primary edycation. 49.6% respondents are only literate(able to put their signature or write
their name). Family member’s profession of 96% of total respondents is day laborer.
Laborers in tea garden are not satisfied with the wages they are getting. In Bangladesh
minimum wage(monthly) in oil mill is BDT7420, re-rolling mill BDT6100, foundry
BDT5100, ship breaking BDT4645, ayurvedic unit BDT4320, pharmaceuticles BDT3645,
RMG BDT3000 though in a ‘A’ category tea garden monthly wage rate of permanent
laborer is BDT1656, in ‘B’ category, BDT1608 and C category BDT1584. So wage of the
tea laborer are minimum or below the mark throughout the country as well as abroad.
Perhaps these wages rate is the lowest in the world. The study found that tea laborers are getting barren paddy land as ration with which they are not satisfied at all. 98.40%
respondents are dissatisfied with weekly ration. 90% respondents are dissatisfied with weekly
wages. Only 9.10% are agreed with the existing wages to some extent. 93.60% are
dissatisfied with sanitation facilities, 90.90% are not satisfied with scope for children
education, 68.70% are are dissatisfied with job security, 63.90% are not satisfied with
employer attitude, 92.80% are dissatisfied with job, 99.20% are dissatisfied with family
planning activities, 99.60% are dissatisfied with housing facilities. 90.10 % are dissatisfied
with medical facilities. They are using unhygienic drinking water. So human rights are being
violating in the tea garden by the employers. Labour law of Bangladesh is being violated.
Since laborers are not satisfied with wages including fringe benefit, they are not attentive in
increasing productivity which hampers the country’s economic growth. It can be improved
the scenario of wage pattern and livelihood of tea garden laborer by taking into account the
mentioned recommendation of the study by the policy makers. Appropriate implementation
of the mentioned recommendation can improve the human rights of tea laborer as well as
economic growth of this country.
