IGNITING VITAL DISCUSSIONS AND SHOWCASING STRIDES TOWARDS A FAMILY FRIENDLY TEA INDUSTRY

The Co-Creating a Family-Friendly Tea Industry conference, centred on the theme of ‘Dignity’ this year, unfolded on a significant day – 17 October, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This annual conference, initiated in 2022, is a collaborative effort between The Centre for Child Rights and Business, Save the Children and the Planters’ Association of Ceylon.

This conference’s primary objective is to bring together stakeholders from Sri Lanka’s thriving tea industry, government institutions, development agencies, civil society organisations and individuals, to facilitate the exchange of insights and explore avenues for collaboration in promoting the sustainability of the tea industry.

During the opening session, Country Director of The Centre for Child Rights and Business Ahila Thillainathan took the stage to highlight the Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business Initiative.

This initiative plays a pivotal role in promoting responsible family friendly business practices with a special emphasis on child rights considerations and the significant impact achieved over a mere one year.

The progress made by Seal initiative members this year was showcased through four powerful videos, exemplifying their commitment to child protection, climate change education, child benefit programmes and gender equity.

At the conference, The Centre for Child Rights and Business awarded the Seal certificate to the first five Seal members. This marked a significant milestone in the initiative’s journey to transform the tea industry into one that is sustainable and family friendly.

These five members – Bogawantalawa Tea Estates, Talawakelle Tea Estates, Horana Plantations, Kelani Valley Plantations and English Tea Shop Organic – have demonstrated notable progress in implementing the action plan they committed to this year.

Following the recognition of the five Seal members, the Chief Executive Officer of The Centre for Child Rights and Business Dr. Ines Kaempfer delved into the increasing prevalence of due diligence mechanisms in various countries and their direct impact on preserving the dignity of tea industry workers.

Addressing the progress made by Seal initiative members, Kaempfer remarked: “I was greatly encouraged by what I saw in the videos – especially considering that this initiative is only in its second year. We embarked on this journey during a challenging time for Sri Lanka, yet we can clearly see tangible developments on the ground. That’s always our ultimate goal and it’s not always easy to achieve.”

The conference touched hearts by amplifying children’s voices and showcased a compilation of firsthand experiences shared by children residing on tea plantations. Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Hong Kong Carol Szeto emphasised the significance of investing in children, highlighting her office’s support for Save the Children’s programmes in tea estates since 2015.

Niraj De Mel, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, passionately elaborated on the aspirations of Sri Lanka’s tea industry to become more family friendly.

The conference further delved into two key challenges faced by the tea industry – housing and land rights, and fair wages and decent work for parents.

In the fair wages panel, an important takeaway was the need for tea brands, retailers and consumers to be more aware of the challenges faced at the ground level, and the pivotal role of fair pricing, which allows for fair wages, in ensuring the industry’s sustainability.

The housing and land rights panel discussed the responsibilities of the relevant ministries in providing housing for estate communities, and the challenges related to ownership and financing.

These panel discussions were followed by roundtable sessions on education and child protection.

The conference’s final session featured a drama and dialogue by the Seal initiative’s youth advisory group – a 10 member group formed in September to provide insights and perspectives on youth and tea community priorities to the Seal’s Advisory Committee. Their impactful play, which earned a standing ovation from the audience, highlighted the challenges faced by their peers and the solutions they proposed.

Julian Chellappah, the Country Director of Save the Children Sri Lanka, concluded the conference on a heartwarming note by inviting all participants to come together and embark on a journey towards a sustainable tea industry.

The Co-Creating a Family-Friendly Tea Industry conference serves as a forum for dialogue among tea industry stakeholders regarding their priorities and challenges in transforming it into a family friendly industry. It not only sparks crucial discussions but also showcases the progress made in achieving this family friendly tea industry.

– Compiled by Dona Senara
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