**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 198 in Lok Sabha, scheduled to be answered on December 1, 2025, regarding labour welfare schemes for tea estate workers, specifically in Tamil Nadu. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment addresses concerns related to wages, working conditions, welfare measures, and the revival of struggling tea estates. The document outlines the roles of State Governments, bipartite/tripartite agreements, and relevant central government schemes in addressing these issues.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Wage Determination:**
* Under the Code on Wages, 2019, State Governments are responsible for fixing and revising minimum wages for tea garden workers.
* Wage rates are determined through bipartite or tripartite agreements involving producers' associations, workers' unions, and the State Government.
* **Health and Welfare Provisions:**
* The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, and the Code on Social Security, 2020, contain provisions for health and welfare facilities in plantations.
* These facilities include drinking water, conservancy, medical care, canteens, crèches, recreation, housing, and education.
* **Social Security Options:**
* The Code on Social Security, 2020, allows plantation owners to register their workers under the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
* **Tea Sector Development:**
* The Government of India implements the Tea Development and Promotion Scheme through the Tea Board for the holistic development of the tea sector, including in Tamil Nadu.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** State Governments are responsible for setting and revising minimum wages for tea garden workers in their respective states.
* **Action Required:** State Governments need to ensure appropriate minimum wages are set and revised for tea garden workers.
**Tea Estate Owners/Producers**
* **Impact:** Required to participate in wage determination agreements. Have the option to register workers under the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
* **Action Required:** Participate in bipartite or tripartite agreements regarding wages; evaluate and potentially implement ESIC registration for workers.
**Tea Estate Workers**
* **Impact:** Affected by the determination of wage rates and the availability of welfare provisions.
* **Action Required:** Engage with workers' unions and participate in discussions regarding wages and working conditions.
Key Entities Referenced
Code on Wages, 2019: Legislation that assigns responsibility to State Governments for fixing and revising minimum wages for tea garden workers.
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020: Legislation containing provisions for health and welfare facilities in plantations.
The Code on Social Security, 2020: Legislation containing provisions relating to health and welfare facilities in plantations and enables plantation owners to register workers under the Employees' State Insurance Corporation.
Tamil Nadu: Indian State where the persistent problems faced by the workers in tea estates are under consideration.
Tea Development and Promotion Scheme: Scheme implemented by the Government of India through the Tea Board for the holistic development of the tea sector, including in Tamil Nadu.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 198
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
LABOUR WELFARE SCHEMES FOR TEA ESTATES WORKERS
198. DR. D RAVI KUMAR:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government is aware of the persistent problems faced
by the workers in tea estates across Tamil Nadu including low
wages, poor living conditions, lack of access to healthcare,
irregular payment of statutory benefits such as provident fund,
gratuity and unsafe working conditions;
(b)if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure fair
wages, timely payment of benefits, provision of housing,
healthcare, education facilities and implementation of labour
welfare schemes in tea estates during the last three years and the
current year;
(c)whether the Government has taken any measures to protect the
livelihoods of tea estate workers amid estate closures or reduced
operations and if so, the details thereof; and
(d)whether the Government proposes any additional schemes to
revive struggling tea estates and improve the overall welfare of tea
estate labourers in Tamil Nadu?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (d): Under the Code on Wages, 2019, the responsibility for
fixing and revising minimum wages for tea garden workers lies with
the respective State Governments, which are the “appropriate
Governments” for this sector. Moreover, the wage rates for tea
garden workers are determined through bipartite or tripartite
agreements among producers’ associations, workers’ unions, and the
State Government.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions
Code, 2020, and the Code on Social Security, 2020, contain provisions
relating to health and welfare facilities in plantations, such as
drinking water, conservancy, medical care, canteens, crèches,
recreation, housing, and education. The Code on Social Security,
2020, also provides an enabling provision under which plantation
owners may opt to register their workers under the Employees’ State
Insurance Corporation.
Further, for the holistic development of the tea sector—
including in Tamil Nadu—the Government of India implements the Tea
Development and Promotion Scheme through the Tea Board.
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