A Neglected Aspect of Business: Human and Social Capital in the Sri Lankan Tea Plantations

Wickramasinghe, Ananda D. and Cameron, Donald C. (2003). A Neglected Aspect of Business: Human and Social Capital in the Sri Lankan Tea Plantations. In: , Sri Lanka at Crossroads; Continuity and Change. 9th International Conference on Sri Lanka Studies, Ruhuna University, Sri Lanka, (). 28 - 30 November 2003.


Author Wickramasinghe, Ananda D.
Cameron, Donald C.
Title of paper A Neglected Aspect of Business: Human and Social Capital in the Sri Lankan Tea Plantations
Conference Paper Type Published Abstract
Conference name 9th International Conference on Sri Lanka Studies
Conference location Ruhuna University, Sri Lanka
Conference dates 28 - 30 November 2003
Proceedings title Sri Lanka at Crossroads; Continuity and Change
Publication date 2003
Abstract/Summary This paper examines idiosyncrasies of tea plantation culture and politics in relation to Sri Lankan national and popular cultural typologies, with special reference to female tea plantation workers. Tea production in Sri Lanka is heavily based on manual labour, and it is the largest industry that provides accommodation for employees and their families. In this paper, it is argued that politico-cultural production relations have dominated labour productivity in tea plantations. Ways in which female workers have been marginalized, through patriarchal politics, ethnicity, religion, education, elitism, and employment are explained. This culture of the plantation community operates negatively with respect to the management agenda. It is also argued that social capital development in tea plantations is important not only for productivity improvement, but also for reasons of political and social obligation for the nation, because migrant plantation workers have been working and living in plantations over 150 years.
Subjects EX
420399 Cultural Studies not elsewhere classified
620499 Primary plant products not elsewhere classified
Keyword Political economy
Underdevelopment
Strategic management
Tea plantations
Sri Lanka
Q-Index Code EX

Document type: Conference Paper
Sub-type: Published Abstract
Collections: Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) - Collection
School of Agriculture and Food Sciences
 
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Created: Fri, 24 Aug 2007, 10:06:15 EST