Lok Sabha Question No. 440 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Schemes for Mentha Plantation Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Tanuj Punia

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

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 440

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## SCHEMES FOR MENTHA PLANTATION WORKERS

- *440. SHRI TANUJ PUNIA:

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

- (a)whether the  Government  has any social security  schemes including Employees' State Insurance (ESI)/Provident Fund (PF) for Mentha  plantation  workers  involved  in  intensive  cultivation, harvesting  and  distillation  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the said workers are not getting the prescribed minimum daily wages and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has any scheme to pay compensation to dependents of the said workers in case of death and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to improve the health and wellness condition of the said workers in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the other steps being taken by the Government for welfare of the said workers in the country?

## MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  440  FOR  23.03.2026  BY  SHRI TANUJ  PUNIA  REGARDING  SCHEMES  FOR  MENTHA  PLANTATION WORKERS.

(a) to (e): Under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, medical care and cash benefits were provided to Insured Persons and their dependents in respect of establishments covered under the Act. Now, the ESI Act, 1948 has been subsumed in the Code on Social Security, 2020, which has come into force w.e.f. 21.11.2025.  The Code has a provision which provides that an employer of a plantation may opt for coverage under the Employees' State Insurance scheme, where the benefits  available  are  better  than  those  already  provided  by  the employer.

The  provisions  of  the  Employees'  Provident  Funds  and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 were also applicable to plantations  employing  20  or  more  workers,  subject  to  the  wage ceiling.  The  Act  has  been  subsumed in Chapter III of the Code on Social Security, 2020. The relevant draft rules under the said Code including the applicability of the provisions of the said chapter have been pre-published.

The Code on Wages, 2019 provides for universal minimum wages across employments in organised and unorganised sectors, including plantation workers. However, the fixation and enforcement of wages, including minimum wages in respect of plantation workers, are undertaken by the respective State Governments.

Compensation to dependents of workers, including plantation workers, in the event of death arising out of and in the course of employment was provided under the Employees' Compensation  Act,  1923  (now  subsumed  in  the  Code  on  Social Security, 2020), subject to applicability.

The welfare and working conditions of plantation workers were governed by the provisions of the Plantations Labour Act, 1951. The  provisions of the said Act have been  subsumed  in  the Occupational  Safety,  Health  and  Working  Conditions  Code,  2020, which regulates the conditions of work and provides for health, safety and  welfare  measures  such  as  medical  facilities,  drinking  water, sanitation, housing and other amenities for workers.

Further,  welfare  benefits  such  as  maternity  benefits, gratuity and bonus were also provided to plantation workers, subject to applicability, under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 and Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. However, the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 and the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 have been subsumed in the Code on Social Security, 2020, while the Payment  of  Bonus  Act,  1965  has  been  subsumed  in  the  Code  on Wages, 2019. The relevant rules under the said Codes have been prepublished.

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