Chapter Four

Policy recommendation:

Reducing gender inequality among the tea estate workers of Lakkatura tea estate in Sylhet requires

a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of inequality and provides targeted support

to women and girls. Some policy recommendations that could help to reduce gender inequality

among tea estate workers include:

1. Improving access to health care services: Providing tea estate workers, particularly women

and girls, with access to adequate health care services, including prenatal care, deliveries by

skilled birth attendants, and postnatal care, can help to improve their health and well-being and

reduce gender-based health disparities.

2. Strengthening labor laws and protections: Enforcing labor laws that protect the rights of tea

estate workers, particularly women, and ensuring that workers have access to grievance

mechanisms can help to reduce gender-based exploitation and abuse in the workplace

(Kamruzzaman, Parveen, & Das, 2014).

3. Providing safe and adequate housing: Improving housing conditions on tea estates,

including access to safe and adequate sanitation facilities, can help to reduce the spread of

infectious diseases and improve the health and well-being of tea estate workers, particularly

women and girls.

4. Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment: Encouraging gender equality and

women's empowerment, through initiatives such as educational programs, awareness-raising

campaigns, and support for women's organizations, can help to reduce gender-based violence
 and exploitation and provide women with the resources and support they need to lead healthy

and fulfilling lives (Ahamed, & Hossain, 2016).

5. Addressing hazardous working conditions: Addressing hazardous working conditions on

tea estates, including exposure to pesticides and other chemicals, can help to reduce the health

risks faced by tea estate workers, particularly women and girls (Saeed, 2008).

These policy recommendations can help to address the root causes of gender inequality among tea

estate workers in Bangladesh and improve the health and well-being of women and girls. The

government can provide support for education and vocational training for tea estate workers,

particularly women and girls, in order to improve their employability and increase their economic

security. The government can work with NGOs and other organizations to provide tea estate

workers, particularly women and girls, with access to adequate health care services, including

prenatal care, deliveries by skilled birth attendants, and postnatal care, in order to improve their

health and well-being and reduce gender-based health disparities.

Discussion:
Conclusion:

This study demonstrates the universal issue of gender inequality among tea estate workers in

Sylhet. Despite the crucial role that women play in the tea industry, they often face discrimination

and unequal treatment in terms of wages, benefits, and working conditions. The root causes of

gender inequality include cultural attitudes, economic factors, and institutional biases, and they are

deeply entrenched in the tea industry. Despite the significant contributions of women to the tea

industry, they face numerous challenges in terms of unequal pay, limited benefits, and unfavorable

working conditions. The root causes of gender inequality are complex and interrelated, and they

include cultural attitudes, economic factors, and institutional biases. To address these challenges,

it is important for the tea industry to implement policies and practices that promote gender equality,

such as fair wage policies, equal access to benefits and training, and increased representation of

women in leadership positions. In conclusion, this study focuses on the issue of gender inequality

among the tea estate workers in Lakkatura, Sylhet. While progress has been made in some areas,

much more work remains to be done to ensure that women are treated fairly and equitably in the

workplace. By continuing to research and address the challenges faced by women in the tea

industry, we can work towards a future where gender equality is a reality for all workers.
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