Amnesty International has alleged that Malaiyaha Tamil workers employed in Sri Lanka’s private tea estates are facing serious labour rights abuses that may amount to forced labour under International Labour Organization (ILO) indicators.
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‎In a report released on Tuesday (26), Amnesty International said its research found widespread allegations of intimidation, threats, physical violence, debt bondage, restrictions on movement and poor living and working conditions among workers in tea estates located in the Southern Province.
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‎The report is based on research conducted between January 2024 and January 2026 across 45 estates in the Galle and Matara districts, including interviews with 159 workers, estate managers and supervisors.
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‎“Private tea estates in Sri Lanka are systematically violating labour laws in their treatment of Malaiyaha Tamil workers with no accountability,” said Smriti Singh, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for South Asia.
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‎She said workers across multiple estates had reported discrimination, violence, withheld wages and exploitative debt practices, raising “serious concerns about forced labour.”
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‎According to the report, many workers were allegedly classified as “casual workers,” preventing them from accessing labour protections, maternity benefits, pensions and sick leave guaranteed under Sri Lankan law.
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‎Amnesty International also claimed that workers on several estates faced unrealistic tea-picking targets, with some allegedly required to harvest more than 25 kilograms of tea leaves per day to receive full wages.
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‎One worker quoted in the report alleged that wages were reduced or delayed if assigned work targets were not completed.
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‎The organization further alleged that many workers depended on estate management for housing and feared eviction, while some also reported restrictions on movement and inadequate living conditions.
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‎Amnesty International urged Sri Lankan authorities to strengthen labour inspections, enforce labour laws and remove barriers preventing Malaiyaha Tamil workers from accessing justice and trade union representation.
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‎“Sri Lanka’s obligation to eradicate forced labour is clear under both domestic and international law,” Singh said. (Newswire)
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