A new report by Amnesty International has cast a spotlight on the harsh realities faced by Malaiyaha Tamil tea workers employed on private tea estates and smallholdings across Sri Lanka’s Southern Province. The investigation, conducted over a two-year period between January 2024 and January 2026, documents widespread labour rights violations and reveals conditions that rights advocates say bear the hallmarks of forced labour.
Researchers visited 45 tea estates and smallholdings in the districts of Galle and Matara, interviewing workers about their experiences. The findings paint a troubling picture of a community trapped by poverty, discrimination and dependence on estate owners.
According to the report, many workers face a combination of intimidation, threats, physical abuse, sexual harassment, debt-related coercion and restrictions on their personal freedom. Amnesty argues that these conditions align with internationally recognised indicators of forced labour identified by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The report highlights that Malaiyaha Tamils continue to suffer long-standing discrimination linked to their ancestry, ethnicity, caste background and language. This systemic exclusion, researchers say, has left many workers marginalised and heavily reliant on estate employers for housing, employment and access to basic welfare services.
Despite Sri Lanka’s commitments under international human rights treaties and its ratification of numerous ILO conventions, the report argues that significant shortcomings remain in protecting plantation workers. While general labour laws apply to estate workers, gaps persist in areas such as wages, occupational safety and working conditions. For many workers, accessing legal remedies is difficult due to structural inequalities and economic dependence.
One of the most significant concerns raised is the abuse of vulnerability. Amnesty alleges that employers exploit workers’ social and economic disadvantages, making it difficult for them to resist unfair treatment or seek alternative employment. Caste-based discrimination within the community was also identified as a factor contributing to exploitation.
Housing insecurity emerged as another recurring theme. Workers across all 45 estates reported depending on their employers for accommodation. Many expressed fears of eviction if they challenged management or complained about poor conditions. This dependence, researchers note, creates a powerful tool of control.
The report also documents incidents of verbal and physical abuse. Workers from 15 estates reported either experiencing or witnessing mistreatment by management. Complaints ranged from punishment for questioning unpaid wages to retaliation for criticism of estate operations. Threats of violence were reportedly used to discourage dissent and enforce compliance.
Amnesty concludes that these practices reflect deep-rooted structural issues within segments of Sri Lanka’s tea sector. The organisation is urging authorities to strengthen legal protections, improve enforcement mechanisms and ensure that vulnerable workers are protected from exploitation. It warns that without meaningful reforms, thousands of workers may continue to face conditions that undermine both their dignity and fundamental human rights.
