Amnesty says Tamil tea workers face forced labor in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (MNTV) — Thousands of Tamil tea plantation workers in Sri Lanka are facing exploitation and abuse that may amount to forced labor, according to a new report by Amnesty International, which accused employers and state institutions of systematically failing one of the country’s most marginalized communities.

The report, published by Amnesty International, documents widespread abuse against Malaiyaha Tamil workers employed across private tea estates and smallholdings in southern Sri Lanka, where researchers found evidence of violence, wage exploitation, movement restrictions, debt dependency and poor living conditions.

Malaiyaha Tamils are descendants of laborers brought from southern India by British colonial authorities during the 19th century to work on tea plantations. Decades after independence, rights groups say many remain trapped in cycles of poverty and dependence, relying on estate owners not only for employment but also housing and welfare.

The report is based on research conducted between 2024 and 2026 across 45 tea estates in southern districts, including interviews with more than 150 workers. Amnesty said patterns documented across estates corresponded with multiple indicators used by the International Labor Organization to identify forced labor.

Researchers found workers frequently faced unrealistic production quotas and wage deductions that pushed families deeper into debt. On more than half of estates surveyed, workers reportedly had to pick more than 25 kilograms of tea leaves daily or risk salary reductions or delayed payments. Some workers said they earned as little as 1,000 Sri Lankan rupees (about $3) after failing to meet targets.

Workers also described physical violence, intimidation and harassment by supervisors and estate managers. Some reported being beaten for arriving late, questioning salaries or failing to complete assigned tasks.

The report further found that many workers faced restrictions on movement and feared eviction because employers controlled housing. Researchers said workers on numerous estates described curfews, travel restrictions and poor living conditions that failed to meet basic housing standards.

According to Amnesty, exploitation is compounded by weak enforcement of labor protections. Many employers reportedly classify workers as temporary or casual laborers, allowing estates to avoid providing benefits such as pensions, maternity protections and paid leave.

Researchers also highlighted barriers preventing workers from seeking justice, including language gaps, discrimination and limited access to trade unions. Amnesty said none of the estates visited during research had active union representation.

The rights organization called on Sri Lankan authorities to strengthen labor inspections, investigate abuses and enforce existing laws, arguing that decades of discrimination and economic marginalization have left Malaiyaha Tamil communities especially vulnerable to exploitation.