Govt. to sign new agreement on estate sector wages

• According to the proposed agreement, daily wages to be increased to Rs. 770.
• Agreement will include proposals of the Lanka Estate Workers Union, Ceylon Workers Congress and the collective of estate trade unions

The Government anticipates signing a new agreement with the estate sector to increase their daily wages, Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations W.D.J. Seneviratne said.

He also said that preparation of the agreement to resolve the problem related to the Estate Sector wages done in a manner fair to both the workers and the plantation companies.

The Minister expressed these views during a meeting with representatives of the plantation companies and trade union members at his Ministry.

The collective agreement on estate sector wages came to an end on 31 March and since then the estate workers are in a labour dispute with the companies over the wages.

The trade union representatives have held discussions with the companies on increasing the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,000. However, the tea estate companies say that if the daily wage was increased to Rs. 1,000 their companies would face a risk.

Under the Government proposed agreement, the daily wages for the estate workers will be increased to Rs. 770.

The collective agreement is expected to be prepared by including the proposals of the Lanka Estate Workers Union, Ceylon Workers Congress and the collective of estate trade unions.