Lok Sabha Question No. 98 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Social Security Schemes for Tea Plantation Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy, Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 98 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES FOR TEA PLANTATION WORKERS

*98.   DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether the Government has any social security scheme for tea plantation workers in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether all the plantation workers are covered under the benefits of ESI and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  action  on  tea  plantation owners who do not pay their share of Provident Fund, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)whether  tea  plantation  workers  are  not  getting  the  prescribed minimum daily wages, if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)whether the Government has any scheme to pay compensations to dependents of tea plantation workers in case of death and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)the details of steps being taken by the Government for welfare of tea plantation workers in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (f):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 98 FOR 29.07.2024 RAISED BY DR.  JAYANTA  KUMAR  ROY  AND  SMT.  SANGEETA  KUMARI  SINGH DEO, REGARDING SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES FOR TEA PLANTATION WORKERS.

(a) to (f): Plantations  Labour  Act,  1951  mandates  employers  to provide basic welfare services and amenities like housing, medical, primary education, water supply, sanitation etc. for  the  plantation workers including tea plantations. Besides, Tea Board implements various welfare activities in the area of health, hygiene, training and education of tea plantation workers and their wards.

Plantation workers are also eligible for benefits under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, the Maternity  Benefit  Act  1961,  the  Minimum  Wages  Act,  1948,  the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, and the Employee Compensation Act, 1923. The Plantations Labour Act, 1951, also provides for compensation to be paid in case of death or injury caused to any worker or member of his family as a result of the collapse of house provided by the employer.

The  tea plantation workers  are also  covered  under Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. In case  of  non-payment  of  provident  fund  share  by  tea  plantation owners, action is taken in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The workers of tea plantation in the State of Assam are separately covered under the provisions of the Assam Tea Plantations Provident Fund Scheme Act, 1955.

Plantation  workers  are  not  covered  under  Employees' State  Insurance  Act,  1948;  however  the  Code  on  Social  Security, 2020  envisages  giving  option  to  plantation  owners  to  enroll  its workers as members of ESIC (Employees State Insurance Corporation).

Provisions  of  Plantations  Labour  Act,  1951  have  been subsumed under the Code on the Occupational, Safety, Health and Working  Conditions,  2020  and  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020 which are yet to be implemented.

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