India

India is the world’s second-largest producer of tea after China, contributing around a quarter of global production. It has the highest domestic tea consumption, and ranks as the second-largest exporter (as of 2024).

The Indian tea industry employs over three million workers, more than half of whom are women.

Despite contributing to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, many workers and their families struggle to meet basic needs.

Assam, India’s largest tea-growing region, accounts for roughly half of the country’s production, according to the Tea Board of India.

Small tea growers produce over 50% of India’s tea, primarily for the domestic market, highlighting the diversity and scale of the sector.

Regional priorities

ETP in India works to improve the lives of tea communities while supporting long-term sector sustainability.

Key priorities include:

Building strong community institutions that empower workers to shape local development.
Mainstreaming social protection to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience.
Facilitating women’s leadership and gender equality across estates.
Improving day-to-day worker welfare and livelihood opportunities.
Supporting responsible business practices, transparency, and alignment with global Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) standards.

Facts & figures

In May 2025, Assam’s government increased daily wages in state-run tea gardens from ₹220 to ₹250, effective 1 October 2025.
Many observers note that even ₹250/day is insufficient to cover basic living costs.
Wages in private gardens and unorganised sectors remain lower (₹150–180/day).
Unions continue to demand higher pay to keep up with inflation and rising costs.

Women make up 50–60% of Assam’s tea workforce, with nearly 80% engaged in tea plucking, a labour-intensive task.
They typically earn 30–40% less than men and often work 8–10 hours daily with limited rest.
Many women are temporary workers and lack formal protections under the Plantation Labour Act.
Health risks include pesticide exposure, poor sanitation, and limited reproductive healthcare.
Women hold less than 5% of supervisory roles and have minimal presence in unions, limiting their voice in decision-making.

Assam is highly climate-vulnerable, with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, droughts, and pest outbreaks affecting tea yields and quality.
Early-flush teas, in particular, are at risk.
Adaptation measures – such as better irrigation, improved plant varieties, and water management infrastructure – are essential for long-term sustainability.

Our initiatives in India

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