President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a high-powered committee to investigate the plantation companies that are seemingly unable to increase the daily wages of the plantation workers to Rs. 1,700 and take measures to provide relief if the company is unable to increase the wages because it is running at a loss. The committees appointed in keeping with the President’s instructions will investigate the 22 Plantation Management Companies (PMCs) and find out whether these companies are not in a position to increase the salaries of the employees, and if so, what steps can be taken regarding the estate companies.
If the administration of these companies is so weak that it is not possible to pay the salaries, then the Government will look into it to take over those companies and hand them over to other investors. If these companies do not benefit the employees, Government and the country, the intention of the Government is to run such PMCs more efficiently.
The gazette notification regarding the confirmation of raising the minimum wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700 was issued on May 21. This gazette notification has been published under the signature of the Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment.
President Wickremesinghe announced the increase of the minimum daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700 on May 1 (May Day).
Accordingly, the basic salary of estate workers will be increased to Rs.1,350 and another Rs.350 will be given based on their productivity.
