socio-economic profile of rubber tappers in the small holding sector

the same at once, because of the personal bondage.
Another feature of labour market of tappers is the absence of trade union activities.
The bargaining power is lesser than other agricultural works. The above-mentioned
subjective factors like ‘moral ties’ have also contributed to this phenomenon. They
adversely affect the consciousness of tappers as a class. The present trend of recession in
rubber economy also aggravates the above situation, because the tappers are also aware of
declining revenue of growers.
Low rate of trade union activities and working class consciousness are reflected in
the number of disputes between tappers and growers, which come before the legal
authority. The tapping laboureres problem had been settled under Agricultural Workers
Act 1947 till 1997. The drawback of agricultural workers act is that it cannot deal with
labourers of smallholdings below 1 hectare. Unfortunately, a major share of
smallholdings is below 1 hectare. The high court judgment on Abraham Thomas V
Labour court is a landmark in this respect. The judgment brought disputes of tappers in
smallholdings under Industrial Dispute Act 1948, which covers holdings of area even
below 1 hectare.
Agricultural labour dispute in Kottayam district are within the jurisdiction of
District Labour Officer. An average of 20 cases from smallholdings come before this
office annually. Out of these, only less than 4cases are from the study area. Most of the
cases come before the labour office are associated with denial of employment after
slaughtering trees in a portion of the holding. Disputes regarding wage rate are rare.
Normally trade union leaders especially from the plantation participate in the conciliation
for the tappers. Most of the cases are settled by a practical formula designed by employer,
tapper or trade union workers and labour officer rather than depending on ID Act or any