Initiative launched to enhance well-being of women and children in plantation sector

In a major step towards safeguarding the wellbeing of women and children from estate sector communities, the Centre for Child Rights and Business in partnership with Save the Children, and key stakeholders, the Planters Association of Ceylon, Plantation Human Development Trust, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs announced the launch of Sri Lanka’s first “Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business”.

In the backdrop of a looming economic crisis that threatens to erode Sri Lanka’s strong progress quality of life, key socio-economic and health indicators, the Mother and Child-Friendly Seal is designed to guide businesses on a path that incorporates the wellbeing of women and children across the estate sector.

“We believe in ensuring the wellbeing of women and children living among the plantation community as they are the key in influencing the sustainable development of the industry,” Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) Chairman, and Director/CEO of Elpitiya Plantations PLC, Bhathiya Bulumulla stated.

The initiative also aims to provide encouragement to businesses in the tea supply chain – from brands, exporters, brokers, to plantation companies and estates – to make sustainable and meaningful investments in the wellbeing of women and children.

“For generations, women have been integral to the development of Sri Lanka’s plantation industry. By bolstering standards through the implementation of initiatives like the Mother & Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business, we are better able to protect the livelihoods and quality of living of all those connected to the plantation industry. Moving forward, we will also be engaging with all industry stakeholders in order to further expand these standards to the rest of the industry, in order to maximize the social utility of such programmes.” PA Media Spokesperson and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai explained.

 “For over eight years, we have continuously worked to improve the lives of children living in the tea estates. By investing $1.5 million, our programmes focused on introducing a child protection policy to tea planation companies, strengthening the community-based child protection mechanisms and empowering children for their child rights. This initiative has paved way to build strong alliances with the Planters Association, the Plantation Human Development Trust, and tea producers, exporters and brands to create sustainable standards for mother and child friendly tea estates.

“We also partnered with The Centre for Child Rights and Business in Sri Lanka with an aim to create the Seal initiative, used to differentiate Sri Lankan tea in the marketplace. Additionally, this initiative will create a governing body which will monitor commitments, results and issue the Seal,” Save the Children National Director, Julian Chellappah explained.

The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs closely collaborated on this initiative, as a key member of the advisory committee that provides strategic guidance.

 “The Ministry of Women and Child Development is responsible for empowering, ensuring, and promoting the rights of women and children. The Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business is an important initiative, which will immensely support the objectives of the ministry,” Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Nilmini Herath said.