Does worker alcohol addiction directly influence the productivity of tea plantation workers of Sri Lanka?

Abstract

The Sri Lankan tea industry plays a major role in contributing significant amount to government revenue as well as gross domestic product of Sri Lanka. The quality and the undeniable flavor of Sri Lankan tea had been able to attract more markets though the prices of Sri Lankan tea are higher compared to the other nations. Today Sri Lanka shows the signs of reaping competitive disadvantages due to low labor productivity and high cost of production. Alcohol addiction has not still taken into account as a major problem, even though it is a social problem which is exists highly in plantation sector. This paper examines the association between alcohol addiction and labour productivity. The information on worker socio economic background and alcohol consumption of workers was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data collected from 60 workers of tea plantations were analysed using Chi-square test to see the association between alcohol addictions, labour productivity and socio economic factors. The results revealed that among the socio-economic factors, sex and excess money has an impact on alcohol addiction. There is no direct association between alcohol addiction and labour productivity. Highly effective factor that reduces the overall productivity of the plantations was identifies as alcohol related absenteeism. It also shown that the over expense on alcohol consumption would influence workers to out migrate from estates and they consider alcohol as a basic need of their lives and as a motivator.