...our Sourced with Care programme is designed to improve the lives of those working in our supply chain. As part of this programme, we are partnering with IDH - the sustainable trade initiative, under their Living Wages Roadmap to work towards closing the living wage gap in our tea supply chain...

Regarding the BHRRC’s Sri Lanka report, Twinings sources tea from five companies mentioned: Kelani Valley, Kegalle Plantations, Maskeliya Plantations Ltd, Talawakelle Tea Estates Plc and Bogawantalawa Tea Estates Plc, as set-out in our global sourcing map1 .

We became aware that certain plantation companies were challenging the decision of the wages board in March 2022, whilst carrying out Twinings Community Needs Assessments on Bogawantalawa’s tea estates. We investigated this issue with the five producers that Twinings sources from and they have confirmed to us that they are complying with the new minimum wage legislation for tea plantation workers...

Last year, we started rolling out the Living wages roadmap to key producers to measure the Living Wage gap. Using 2021 data, we were able to establish that there was on average a 7% gap between actual wage and living wage for workers in Sri Lanka. However, we are conscious that last year’s events in Sri Lanka have led to a hyperinflation crisis and rising food prices, meaning that previous benchmarks need to be revaluated to best reflect the current situation. We are continuing to monitor the data and work closely with partners to help close the gap...

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