India: Workers fear mass job losses as they are made to uproot tea bushes, incl. co responses
In December 2022, it was reported that workers at the Lepetakata Tea Estate had been forced to uproot tea bushes to make way for an industrial unit. It is alleged that management told workers the uprooting was to make way for replantation when in fact it was for construction that many workers feared will lead to job losses. The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited Luxmi Tea Company, which owns Lepetakata Tea Estate, to respond. Unilever and Tetley have previously reported buying from the estate in question. Lipton Teas and Infusions took over most of Unilever's tea business in 2022. Therefore, the Resource Centre also asked these three companies for a response.
Full responses are included below.