Sri Lanka: Hundreds of plantation workers strike to defend jobs and social rights
Over 500 Gartmore Estate workers at Maskeliya in central Sri Lanka remain on strike after walking out on December 28 to defend their jobs and social rights. On Wednesday, the strikers rejected an attempt by the plantation unions to push them back to work.
Gartmore workers are demanding a guarantee that their jobs and conditions, including provident fund and gratuity (pensions) payments will be continued by the new owner of the estate. The 290-hectare private estate was previously owned by the Soyza family.
Line rooms at Gartmore Estate [Credit: WSWS Media]