Managing Plight and Measuring Contribution of Female Workers in Tea Industry of Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh Tea Industry dates back 1856 when British companies established this agrobased industry in hilly area of Sylhet and Chittagong districts. To clean jungle, to make nurseries and to nurture the nurseries at a certain level, then transferring the tea plants from nurseries to plantation which constitutes continuous whole the year-round work, they need regimented work force who would work in the tea plantation for generations, they migrated workers from famine prone areas of India alluring them to enjoy a better life earning wages working in tea estates. The migrated workers succumbed their allurement and last 170 years they are still working generations to generation in tea estates with meagre wages but their life style has not been developed. A cup of tea when served looks pleasant but who knows there are endless plights endured by workers to make a cup of tea with soothing liquor right from tea plantation job, picking quality leaves and to make tea. Their fate is not changed to start a better living but the owners earn huge margin from selling quality tea to international markets.