ABSTRACT
This chapter assesses the welfare mechanism of four tea estates of Assam and analyses its potential towards the social upgradation of workers. Along with economic upgradation in the value chain of the industry, the estates need to focus on strengthening both quantitative and qualitative aspects of social upgrading rather than focusing solely on economic aspects. This is so because, unlike other work, plantation economies dwell heavily on workers who serve as an integral part within the economy. As an increase in wages takes time to address the deplorable working and living conditions, estates can work on improving welfare mechanisms. Though these plantations are covered through a number of legal instruments, such as the Plantation Labour Act of 1951 and the Minimum Wages Act of 1948, among others, in standardising work and employment, there seems to be lack of compliance with the same and thereby a failure of labour market institutions.
