Roundtable Discussion on Tea Workers\' Rights and Related Issues

The Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO) organized a roundtable discussion focusing on the rights and overall issues of tea workers. The meeting was attended by administrative officials, tea estate owners, general tea workers, panchayat members, valley members, NGO representatives, union parishad members, and tea estate youth committee members.

The roundtable took place on Wednesday, July 9, at 12 PM in a conference room of a hotel in Sylhet city. The discussion highlighted the living conditions of tea workers, with female tea workers specifically raising concerns about the challenges they face while working in the estates. Participants provided various recommendations to address the workers' issues and ensure their rights.

Speakers at the meeting emphasized that no one wants the tea industry to collapse. To sustain the industry, the rights of tea workers must be prioritized, as the estates thrive because of their labor. They noted that labor laws outline special provisions for female tea workers, which are their rightful entitlements. The speakers also recommended long-term projects to improve the living standards of this marginalized tea community.

The meeting was chaired by ECDO's Executive Director, Lakshmikanta Singh. The chief guest was Senior Assistant Judge and Sylhet District Legal Aid Officer Bisheshwar Singh. Special guests included Faruk Mahmud Chowdhury, President of Citizens for Good Governance (Sujan), and Anwar Hossain, Manager of Lakkatura Tea Estate. ECDO’s Project Coordinator Momtahidur Rahman Chowdhury presented an overview of the conditions in Sylhet’s tea estates at the start of the meeting.

The organizers stated that through the project "Leadership Development for Tea Garden Women Workers on Their Rights," supported by the European Union (EU) and Oxfam in Bangladesh, ECDO has been providing various training programs to female tea workers. These programs aim to empower them to claim their rights by familiarizing them with government agencies and services.

Anwar Hossain, Manager of Lakkatura Tea Estate, said, "Just as the tea workers have pending wages, so do I and others in the management. On one hand, tea auctions are not happening, and even when they do, the revenue is insufficient to pay workers' wages. We’ve applied for loans but haven’t received them. We’re facing a crisis, but hopefully, it will pass soon, and the workers' issues will be resolved gradually. Workers need to be patient, as the estate belongs to them, and it’s their responsibility to protect it."

Chief guest Bisheshwar Singh stated, "The demands you’ve raised today are your rights under labor laws. These laws provide special provisions for female workers, including equal wages, workplace toilet facilities, maternity benefits, childcare, and exemptions from heavy or hazardous work. It is the responsibility of estate owners to ensure these benefits for female tea workers."

ECDO’s Executive Director Lakshmikanta Singh added, "Before starting the project, we conducted a survey to identify the issues faced by tea workers. We then sent recommendations to policymakers. We’ve organized workshops to develop leadership among female tea workers and conducted awareness-raising activities such as street dramas and courtyard meetings. We are now collecting further recommendations to ensure everyone can contribute to resolving the tea workers’ issues."