Thousands of estate workers continued with demonstrations for the seventh day on Monday, demanding that their daily wages be increased to Rs.1000.
Haputale – Estate workers demonstrated blocking the Colombo-Badulla main road. The demonstration saw the participation of more than 3,500 labourers sporting black bands and caused severe congestion on the main road.
Bandarawela – Over 1,000 labourers from 5 estates including the Ambukama estate in Pallekatuwa, Bandarawela.
Nuwara Eliya – A similar demonstration was also witnessed in Thangagala in Lindula, Nuwara Eliya, where protesters sported black bands and also raised black flags at their homes.
Several such demonstrations had been organised in the Hatton town.
Yatiyanthota – Estate workers gathered in Ganepola, Yatiyanthota.
Nanu Oya – Demonstrations blocked the Nuwara Eliya – Avissawella road.
Kandapola – Demonstrations blocked the Nuwara Eliya – Udapussellawa Road.
Bibilawaththa Estate – Demonstrations blocked the Bibile Road.
Nanu Oya – Demonstrations blocked the Nuwara Eliya – Avissawella road.
Kandapola – Demonstrations blocked the Nuwara Eliya – Udapussellawa Road.
Bibilawaththa Estate – Demonstrations blocked the Bibile Road.
Laborers held an hour long protest blocking the Hatton-Colombo Main Road aswell.
Bogawanthalawa – Demonstrations blocked the Hatton-Bogawanthalawa road.
Workers from three divisions of the Ayr estate held a protest blocking the Padukka-Thummodara road.
Workers from three divisions of the Ayr estate held a protest blocking the Padukka-Thummodara road.
The protesters warned that if they do not receive a solution by October 10, they will resort to an indefinite strike action. Several such demonstrations were also witnessed at various locations in the Matale town.
As per the agreement last signed in 2013, the daily wage of an estate worker is Rs. 450.
It notes that the estate management will pay 15% of this amount of Rs. 67 and 50 cents to the Employees Provident Fund and the Employees Trust Fund. Labourers must also be paid a further Rs. 140 for a 75% attendance record.
Accordingly, with all payments, the daily wage of an estate worker is Rs. 620.
The agreement signed in 2013, ended on March 31, 2015.
News 1st made inquiries from the Employers Association on the possibility of increasing estate workers daily wages to Rs. 1000. The Association’s President Sunil Pohilayadda noted that discussions are underway on a new plan to increase wages based on productivity.
The competent authorities at ministerial level, when it comes to the issue of the wages of estate workers, are Ministers Navin Dissanayake, W.D.J. Seneviratne, P. Digambaran and Malik Samarawickrema.
The issue was also brought up at the Ginigathhena-Ambegamuwa Development Committee meeting on Monday morning.
“Public officials were given Rs.10,000 The private sector was given Rs.2,500, but the estate workers wages have not been increased”, said Ganapathi Kanagaraj, Central Provincial Councillor.
“At present, the plantation companies have agreed to pay Rs.700, an increase of Rs.80 . But the trade unions are hoping for a Rs.730 or an increase of Rs.110”, said ,W.D.J. Seneviratne Minister, Labour and Trade Union Relations.