Abstract:
The exploration of direct and indirect social and economic impacts of the industry
on the workers attached to the oil palm industry has under researched and hence
the situation is questionable particular in the Sri Lankan context. Therefore, this
study focuses on investigating the present status of oil palm employees in Southern
province, Sri Lanka and to provide suggestions to uplift their livelihood. Primarily
data were collected from a sample consisted of sixty employees in Elpitiya
plantation in Galle district using pre-tested structured questionnaire survey.
Results related to the respondents’ profile, it discovers that majority (73%) of oil
palm growers in the study area are male and 43.3% have been educated only up to
grade five. About 83% of them are permanent labors while rest of them are
working in a temporary basis. Moreover, the adaptation of younger generation for
oil palm industry is very low (8.3%). It is noteworthy that 72% of them engaged in
oil palm industry as their main income source. Average income of the employees
nearly Rs.19, 000 per month. Furthermore, monthly average expenditure (Rs.
22,000) is more than their average income. Out of the total expenditure, 81.7%
spend on food items. Results further disclose that 60% of the oil palm workers are
having three to five members in their family and live in line houses with limited
space revealing hosing facility as their major problem. More than half (52%) of the
employees are having their own vehicle; motor bike or foot cycle and majority (76.6
%) use mobile phones. However, all most all the employees are not satisfied about
available health facilities. However, they satisfied about the working hours
(6hrs/day). Finally study suggests that land allocation for building comfortable
spaced houses (48.3%), assuring benefits (40%), developing infrastructures
(3.3%) and safety conditions (8.3%) must be done in order to satisfactorily engage
in the industry. Organizations must make a long-term schedule for uplifting as well
as maintaining the uniformity of the socio- economic status of oil palm employees’
for the betterment of the existing industry.
