Abstract:
Despite the concept of social security being developed based on sufficient theoretical
foundations mainly focusing on the formal sector workers, scholars have not
validated the concept in the context of the informal sector of workers particularly tea
estate workers who face many social and economic challenges due to limited access
to proper social security systems. Therefore, this study aims to assess the concept of
social security that is reflected in the lived experiences of the tea estate workers in
Sri Lanka. A qualitative research approach was used, with data collected through in
depth interviews from purposively selected nine tea estate workers of one private
sector estate at Nuwara-Eliya in Sri Lanka. The data were analyzed using thematic
analysis to identify key patterns and meanings from their responses. The findings
reveal that social security among tea estate workers is largely informal, fragmented,
and uncertain. Workers mainly depend on family support, personal savings, and
employment-based benefits such as Employment Provident Fund (EPF) and
Employment Trust Fund (ETF). Income security is unstable, health and housing
support are limited and often linked to employment, and care systems are inadequate,
especially for elderly and disabled individuals. While education support for children
is relatively better, other services remain weak. Informal networks and crisis support
systems exist but are not reliable for long-term security. Additionally, workers face
barriers such as language difficulties and social inequality, which limit access to
services. The study concludes that there are considerable gaps between the concept
of social security and its practical realization in the lived experiences of tea estate
workers in Sri Lanka.
