Back in Summer 2022, in response to the Sri Lankan economic crisis, here at English Tea Shop we wanted to make sure we were able to do good within the communities we operate in. In collaboration with Save the Children and The Centre for Child Rights and Business, we launched our pioneering Child Benefit Allowance initiative, to help invest in the wellbeing of our employees’ children. This was the first time that a private company had launched a scheme of this nature, putting our workers and their families first during the crisis and beyond.
Why was the scheme needed?
Across many countries, receiving child benefits is often based on a deeply unfair system. Governments frequently treat child benefits as an investment, with the child expected to bring about a return on the investment for the country. The Sri Lankan economic crisis put an intense strain on the funds of many Sri Lankan families; financial anxiety reached new heights, with parents concerned that they may not be able to afford many of the costs involved in raising a child, be it regarding education, transport or other expenses. With this in mind, providing assistance to our employees was absolutely essential in helping us fulfil our commitment to creating shared value in our relationship with our workers.
What does the scheme provide?
Launched in August 2022, the initiative provides child benefit allowance for 143 children (63 boys and 80 girls) of ETS employees. The parents receive a monthly payment of LKR 3,500 to support a specific need for their child, be it providing nutritious food, paying tuition fees or ensuring better health. Though the scheme was piloted last year as a response to the economic crisis, ETS has committed itself to continuing this initiative beyond its pilot year, to ensure that its employees can continue to support their children in the future.
Has the initiative been a success?
The positive impact that the initiative has had has been immeasurable:
– Parents have been overwhelmingly satisfied with the initiative (82% of mothers and 74% of fathers).
– Both mothers (93%) and fathers (87%) believe that the allowance has been highly significant for their families.
– All of those surveyed have claimed that the allowance has had a ‘high’ or ‘above average’ impact on their children and family.
As a result of the crisis, many parents faced concerns regarding the ability of their children to consume essential nutrients through dairy and fruit due to high price inflation. Educational concerns were also paramount, with families struggling to fund school transport services or the provision of educational materials. With this in mind, a majority of parents used the allowance to address the educational needs of their children, such as paying tuition fees, educational materials or extracurricular activities. Others used the allowance to improve the health and hygiene of their children, whilst some parents have used the allowance as savings for their children.
For parents participating in the initiative, most claim that it has gone far in reducing their stress in fulfilling their children’s needs and has reduced their usage of negative coping strategies. From those surveyed, 86% of mothers and 75% of fathers have expressed that the negative impact of the crisis has been highly reduced via the initiative.
At English Tea Shop, the wellbeing of our employees and their families is of paramount importance to us. Through the Child Benefit Allowance initiative, we’ve looked to ensure that the children of our workers are supported during crisis, to widespread acclaim from those involved. Stay tuned to the blog to hear more about our schemes and the positive relationships we’re building with our workers.
As an honor for this initiative recognizing our commitment, we have received the Mother and Child Friendly Seal for Responsible Business. Click here to view.