Labour Issues in the Rice Mill Industry: Challenges, Solutions, and Impacts

Abstract

The rice milling industry is one of the most important industries of the world as rice is a staple in many countries worldwide. The rice industry usually performs the processes that makes the paddy fit for packaging, marketing and human consumption. There are many labour issues faced by this industry and few among them are related to their socioeconomic conditions, health and well-being, worker rights and wage issues. The current study has tried to address the labour issues faced by the rice milling industry, identify the factors causing these issues and address few solutions that need to be implemented in the rice milling industry in order to ensure better performance and overall well-being of the labour of this industry. The major factors causing these issues were identified as industrial effluent and emissions, gender bias practices and absence of education and awareness among the people working in the rice milling industry. These factors are resolvable but there are societal barriers that contribute to inequality among gender and overall wellbeing of the rice mill workers. The societal perception about women, lack of education, awareness and experience about rice milling process and financial barriers come in the path of resolving the labour issues. It is suggested that governmental intervention, regular monitoring, increase in awareness and education, and implementation of labour welfare laws will be helpful in resolving the labour issues in rice milling industry.