Plantations Labour Act 1951

THE PLANTATIONS LABOUR ACT, 1951

Commencement and Application

1. It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
2. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
3. It applies to the following plantations, that is to say,

A) To any land used or intended to be used for growing tea, coffee, rubber, [cinchona
or cardamom] which admeasures [5 hectares] or more and in which   [fifteen] or
more persons are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding twelve
months
B) To any land used or intended to be used for growing any other plant, which
admeasures [5 hectares] or more and in which [fifteen] or more persons are
employed or were employed on any day of the preceding twelve months, if, after
obtaining the approval of the Central government and state government
4. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that all or
any of the provisions of this Act shall apply also to any land used or intended to be
used for growing any plant referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (4),
notwithstanding that—
(A) It admeasures less than 7 [5 hectares], or
(B) The number of persons employed therein is less than 8[fifteen]: Provided that no
such declaration shall be made in respect of such land which admeasured less
than 7 [5 hectares] or in which less than  8 [fifteen] persons were employed,
immediately before the commencement of this Act].

The Plantations Labour Act 1951 mainly Focused on

1) Registration of Plantation
2) Safety of the Workers
3) Welfare of the employees
4) Hours and limitation of Employment
5) Wages of the employees
 Latest Amendments in Plantations Labour Act 2010

1) Given more importance on Safety of the workers

2) The power was given to state government to take decisions on the plantations
3) They omitted the word Child Labour and no child is allowed in the
plantations and strict rules are passed in the latest amendment
4) The employer shall give compensation to a worker in plantation in case of
accident and the memorandum relating to such compensation shall be got
registered by the employer with the Commissioner in accordance with the
provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923

Rights of Plantation Workers

With the employment of over 1 million, the Plantation industry in India is among the largest
private employers in India. It is spread across the States of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and
West Bengal. The Plantation workforce, however, has been among the most exploited
workforce in the organised sector. Their wages are amongst the lowest when compared to
other workers and working and living conditions most dismal. Most of the plantations are
located in remote and 'isolated areas. Workers are mainly dependent on the Plantations as
there is hardly any other employment avenue. Workers are illiterate and migrants with no
awareness or information about their rights. The fact that plantation areas do not come under
the purview of rural development and antipoverty programmes has also prevented conditions
from im proving.

In 1951, the Parliament passed the Plantations Labour Act [PLA] which sought to provide for
the welfare of labour and to regulate the conditions of workers in plantations. Under this law,
the State Governments have been empowered to take all feasible steps to improve the lot of
the plantation workers. The passing of PLA brought some improvements in the plantations
sector. It also helped in creating conditions for organising the workers and the rise of trade
unions. However, the potential benefits promised under the PLA remain unachieved
mainly due to ignorance of workers about their rights under the law.

This folder on the Plantation Labour Act (PLA) has been brought out with a view to
disseminate information on legal rights of the plantation workers under, the law. It is our
hope that the trade union activists will find this handy reference tool in their work among the
plantation workers. HMS gratefully acknowledges the support given by ILO in bringing this
educational material out.