(COLOMBO) – A recent announcement from the Sri Lankan Government to increase the daily wage of tea estate workers to Rs. 1,700 has run into stiff opposition with the Planters’ Association (PA) of Ceylon threatening to take the matter to the highest court, according to media reports seen on Friday.
The PA confirmed that that its membership will be filing objections to these proposals within the time frame stipulated by the Labour Commissioner.
The Planters’ Association (PA) of Ceylon representing Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) is moving ahead to object to the Rs.1700 daily wage increase proposed for plantation workers, while asserting that a final decision is yet to be reached on the matter.
“The Planters Association is very concerned that the announcement made by the Government at the very highest levels officials and the tone of the related media coverage is raising expectations among the workers that could finally lead to disappointment and unrest,” the group said in a statement that was released to the media on Thursday.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced the wage increase at a pro-Government May Day rally drawing criticism from the opposition that the package was linked to gathering votes at upcoming elections that are due to be held on or before September this year.
On April 25, the Sri Lankan Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara issued a gazette notification granting permission for the Commissioner of Labour to determine a minimum wage for workers in the Tea Growing and Manufacturing Trade and Rubber Cultivation and Raw Rubber Processing Trade.
The proposed new Rs.1700 living wage is a 70 percent increase when compared to current living wage of Rs.1000. It consists of Rs.1350 daily wage (including the daily budgetary relief allowance and to be applied for payment of EPF and ETF) and Rs. 350 daily special allowance. In addition, Rs.80 is proposed for over the kilogram rate.
Objections to the proposed determination are opened until 12.00 noon on May 15.
“The PA and its members are concerned that the President’s remarks may be misunderstood and lead workers and the public to assume that a final decision has been taken on this matter when it has not”, the statement was further quoted as saying.
