- New daily wage adjustment to be enforced by law
- Employees’ Provident Fund for plantation workers to be introduced next year – President
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that seven plantation companies have agreed to the Government’s decision to provide a daily wage of Rs.1, 700 to plantation workers.
“As the current Labour Minister, I have planned to convene the Wages Board tomorrow to further discuss the matter, if necessary and introduce special laws to implement this decision”, he said.
President Wickremesinghe was addressing the Kandy District Plantation Labour Unions and Youth Leaders’ meeting organised by the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) at the Karaliya Convention Centre and Centre for Performing Arts, Kandy yesterday (August 10).
The President said that workers’ welfare funds, which had been neglected for many years, will be paid starting next year. The issues faced by the Tamil community in the hill country were directly presented to the President and he responded positively to their concerns.
The President said the people have faced severe hardships over the past two years. However, we have managed to bring the economy to a more stable level. While the country’s economic issues are not entirely resolved, we have provided significant relief to the people, easing their burdens compared to 2022.
President Wickremesinghe said, “This progress was made possible due to the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We have successfully negotiated with the countries that have lent us money, giving us time until 2042 to repay our debts. If we abandon or attempt to amend these agreements, we will lose those benefits, and the country will revert to its previous state, facing issues such as shortages and long queues. Therefore, we must decide whether to continue with this program.”
He said, “We cannot be complacent with the success achieved through the IMF. We should aim for economic development similar to India’s progress.
By 2048, we have planned for rapid development. The people must also decide whether they want leaders who will guide the country forward or those who are more focused on personal pursuits.”
For many years, workers’ welfare funds have not been disbursed to the working class. We plan to start paying these funds from next year, as the country’s economy is recovering and the Government is now in a position to provide this support. In recent years, the people working in the plantation sector have endured significant hardships. While other workers have received salary increases and farmers have been provided with better income, relief has not yet reached the plantation workers, he said.
“Following the transfer of responsibility from Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, I, as President is prepared to discuss the matter with the Wages Board tomorrow (August 12). We will also consider enacting special laws, if necessary, to implement this decision. I believe that Minister Jeevan Thondaman and MP P. Digambaran will support the adoption of these laws,” the President added.
Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, Jeevan Thondaman said, “It has been a year since I assumed office as a Cabinet Minister, and I have done my best during this time. Over the past year, Rs.160 million has been allocated solely for estate infrastructure in the Kandy district. It is an unprecedented amount. “
He said, “We also have plans to set up Thondaman Vocational Training Centres in Kandy and Badulla, with support from the Indian Government. While the hill country has a population of about one million, only 115,000 are employed in the plantation sector.”
Minister Thondaman said plantation workers are seeking a pay rise, and President Ranil Wickremesinghe has implemented various programs to address the development of the hill country and the salary issue. The Government is taking steps to increase the wages of plantation workers, and several estate companies have already agreed to wage hikes. A meeting will be held tomorrow (August 12) with the estate companies, under the patronage of President Wickremesinghe, to address this matter further.”
State Minister for Plantation Industries and Mahaweli Development, Lohan Ratwatte, State Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs Anuradha Jayaratne, Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara and Parliamentarian M. Rameshwaran also spoke.
