Housing & Infrastructure

In our efforts to provide proper living standards to our worker community, the Company initiated several projects with the assistance of the Plantation Human Development Trust, the Government Ministries and agencies.

Health & Safety

Occupational health and workplace safety are of high priority in our estates. During the year under review, the Company conducted a series of Health and Safety related activities, awareness programmes, and training sessions to provide a healthy and safe working environment for the Estate Community. ISO 22000 and the Rain Forest Alliance Certification obtained by the Company carry features that specifically protect workers from process related risks. Given below are some of the activities continuously undertaken.

• •Awareness programmes on tobacco & alcohol prevention

• •Awareness programmes on increase healthiness and life standard of estate community

• •Special mobile clinics for screening of oral cancers

• •Health camps and clinics

• •Nutrition awareness programmes

Community Development

The Company encourage a happy work culture and foster relationships with our employees to bring about improvements in the organization towards the achievement of the common goals described in our vision and mission statements. Believing that our employees are our most valuable asset we always make an effort to develop the ability and productivity of our worker community at all levels. Easy payment schemes for facilities such as obtaining goods and equipment, distress loans, the death benefit welfare scheme medical insurance, sport and recreational activities, and religious programmes, are some of the welfare measures the Company undertakes.

Employment Opportunities

Whenever an employment opportunity arises on our estates it is the policy of the Company to give priority to the children of the existing employees before recruitments are made.

Employee Skill Development on Estates

During the period under review, the Company conducted a series of training sessions for employees on quality manufacturing and agricultural practices, teamwork, career growth and development etc.

Tea

• •Regular trainings sessions for the Tea field and factory workers conducted by the Tea Research Institute

• •Training for mechanized harvesting operation

• •A meeting with Tea Brokering companies, Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC, John Keells PLC, Ceylon Tea Brokers, Mercantile Produce Brokers (Pvt) Ltd and Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers (Pvt) Ltd held in Uva Management Training Centre, Passara to all superintendents, assistant superintendents & factory officers. Key objectives of the meeting are as follow:
  -Surpass Category Elevation Averages
  -Achieve Targeted Gross Sales Average (GSA) for each Processing Unit
  -Achieve excellence in Tea Production Management
  -Pioneering business expansion by exploring innovative avenues, seeking new markets and diversifying our products

Rubber

• •Training Programme on Rubber Grading conducted by M/s Forbes & Walker Commodity Brokers in Rambukkande, Galatura, Mutuwagala and Mahawela Estates

• •Training programme on improving tapping skills and related work conducted by Rubber Development Department

• •Training on quality Rubber Manufacture by Rubber Research Institute in Rambukkanda Estate

• •Night tapping operations have been introduced in order to increase the crop intakes continues

With a view to encouraging youth to remain on Estate and also discourage premature retirement and residents working outside the Estates, outsourcing has been introduced and presently commenced and working well in Telbedde, Glen Alpin & Spring Valley Esateas in the Badulla Region and Balangoda, Cecilton, Meddakande, Pettiagalla, Non Pariel, Rasagalla, Rye/Wikiliya and Walaboda Estates in the Balangoda Region.