Rs. 1,000 minimum daily wage demand
During a meeting last Friday between Minster of Labour Nimal Siripala de Silva and Chairmen of all Sri Lankan Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), a final proposal was submitted towards ensuring a ‘sustainable’ earnings model for tea estate workers, making it the trade unions’ responsibility to take the next action on the long-standing pain point of the industry.
This proposal takes into consideration the sustainability of both the industry and livelihoods of plantation workers, RPCs said.
“After a very productive meeting with the minister, RPCs have arrived at a final consensus on what we can sustainably offer, while providing the highest possible earnings potential for our workers. Our final offer amounts to a 30% increase in earnings on the fixed model, and there is no upper limit to what workers can earn under the productivity-linked components. This is the first step to modernising our entire industry, and moving beyond a basic daily wage system which is a relic of the colonial era and long overdue for an update,” they said.