A STUDY ON LABOR SHORTAGE IN RUBBER PLANTATION OF KALUTARA DISTRICT

Abstract

One of the important industries that affects our country’s economic growth is the plantation industry. Rubber is a Brazil-native crop introduced in Sri Lanka by the British. The most traditional rubber-growing districts are Colombo, Gampaha, Katutura, Kandy, Matale, Galle, Matara, Kurunegala, Rathnapura, and Kegalle. Kalutara district is the second-highest large rubber plantation area. The main objective of this study is to determine the reasons for the labor shortage in rubber plantations of Kalutara district. The Research design is quantitative. The study area of this study is Namunukula Plantation, pallegoda estate in Mathugama Sectary division at Kalutara District. The population considered for this study is about 320 Laboure registered under Namunukula plantations. Therefore, 175 sample tappers were chosen at random by using a systematic method (Using the statistical package for social sciences). A stratified random sampling method has been used for selecting the respondents. In this study, there are two different data collection methods primary data and secondary data. Accordingly for this study data analysis was used by Multiple linear Regression with the statistical package for social sciences and output analysis by the table of descriptive statistics for all the variables under investigation. The study reveals that labor shortage is due to dissatisfaction with work life, benefits to labourers, low scope for development, low income, lack of skill, improper working condition and passion to work also affect to the workers. Thus, improve the quality of work life by recognizing the labourers work or rewarding them, increasing the daily wage of the labourers, providing training to labourers, improving working environment and improving social security measures can reduce labour shortage in plantation.