Adhering to the collective decision agreed upon early this year, the Government will begin paying the promised additional Rs. 50 per day for estate workers from this month. The arrears for May is also expected to be paid with the initial payment.
Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development, Palani Digambaran told the Sunday Observer yesterday, that the government had taken the decision and are making arrangements to make payments.
“The payment is done through government funding. Therefore, it will be limited to a one year period. After completion of one year, all stakeholders will get together and decide upon the wages of estate workers again,” the Minister said.
Last year, estate trade unions started islandwide protests and strong trade action in a bid to increase their daily wages. The protest was supported by various parties which demanded a Rs. 1,000 daily wage for estate workers.
In January 2019, three main plantation trade unions and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon which represents 22 Regional Plantation Companies signed the much delayed biennial Collective Agreement. The agreement was of a Rs. 700 basic daily wage, and an additional payment of Rs. 50.
As a result, the daily basic wage was increased by 30 per cent while the price for each kilo was increased by 60 per cent and reached to Rs. 40. Other than the Price Share Supplement of Rs. 50 mentioned above, management agreed to pay a total of Rs. 105 as the EPF and ETF contributions and altogether the daily wage of estate workers got increased up to Rs. 895 this year. - RJ