Plantation companies offer revised Rs. 1,108 daily wage

Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) have submitted a revised wage proposal to remunerate workers up to Rs. 1,108 a day following a request of Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. 

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon said the revised proposal was a result of a settlement negotiated with the consent of the Minister. However, trade unions are still to agree. This resolution will ensure that workers will earn in excess of the Rs. 1,000 demanded and will finally be rewarded for their increased productivity. 

The Rs. 1,108 daily wage is broken down in the following manner: Basic Wage - Rs. 725, Price Share Supplement - Rs. 50, EPF/ETF - Rs. 108 and an Attendance and Productivity Incentive of Rs. 225, which has been reintroduced.

A fixed daily wage model will be applicable for three days a week. On the rest of the days, employees will be remunerated based on one of two productivity-linked earning models – one where employees will earn Rs. 50 for every kilo of tea leaf plucked, the other being the revenue share model where employees can become entrepreneurs. 

“The Trade Unions have drawn a line in the sand, and now claim that what is best for our employees is a Rs. 1,000 basic wage without any productivity incentives, or even the need to report to work regularly. In the process, they have rejected multiple offers, each of which delivers a fixed daily wage well in excess of Rs. 1,000. We urge trade unions to consider this proposal in the best interest of the plantation worker, looking beyond political interest,” the Planters’ Association of Ceylon said.

“Once productivity models are implemented, workers will have the benefit of flexi-hours, and improved worker mobility, where other family members can contribute towards the earning process as well. Our workers will have a say in when and how they work, and drastically improve their earnings in the process.”