Wages vary according to the nature of the
work and time spent. The two male workers,
who work from morning to evening and have
full responsibility for the farm, are paid 9000
rupees (Rs. 9,000) per month, while the six
regular female workers working eight hours
daily are paid approximately Rs. 6000 monthly.
Daily workers are paid Rs. 150 for seven
hours of labor. All are paid for any overtime
work. Additionally, all workers receive Tiffin
(an Indian English word for a light midday
meal) at the workplace. At this farm, there
is no trade union.
The owner and workers felt no need for one,
due to the positive owner-worker relationship.
Pay and perks for workers are increasing
along with their experience and the rate of
inflation. To date, no accidents have occurred
at this farm. The regular workers are never
involved in any type of heavy work such as
log cutting and transportation. People who
work on a daily wage or contract basis perform
those activities. Neither the management nor
the workers have considered medical facilities,
workers’ compensation or health insurance.
There is no policy addressing social protection
of the workers, and the workers are unaware
of this issue, due to a lack of knowledge about
their future and workers’ rights.
Environmental conservation is the precondition
of the success of the organic farm. The owner
of the farm is very conscious of environmental
conservation and trains his workers accordingly.
Prem Lama is planning to organize trainings
on organic issues for aspirant farmers and
workers in collaboration with international
agencies that help to extend awareness of
the preservation and promotion of the
environment within and outside the farm.
More about the Ashapuri organic farm: http://www.ashapuriorganic.com
The owner himself frequently provides
necessary technical advice to his field workers
and regularly supervises them.
Not only is he trying to establish a work
culture among the workers and community
people that involves mental to manual work
in the field, but technicians from within and
outside the country frequently visit the farm
and offer advanced technical support.