The Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the Plantations Labour Act, 1951 mandates the employers of Plantations which include the tea estates to provide basic welfare services and amenities like housing, medical, primary education, water supply, sanitation, canteens etc.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the workers are paid wages under agreements between the Tea producing States and representative bodies of Labour and Trade Unions with the consent of the respective State Governments. The Tea Board constituted by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, which is the Nodal Administrative Ministry for the Plantation Industry also provides various welfare measures for improving the living conditions of the Tea Plantation labourers. These measures include Schemes for improving the health and hygiene of workers, education of wards of the workers and imparting training to improve skills for growers/workers, etc.