Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake yesterday said the government will discuss with Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) the ways to raise the minimum daily wage up to Rs.1,000 for the estate workers.
The RPC heads have said they will pay Rs.940 basic wage, but the Minister told the companies that a daily payment of Rs. 1,000 is possible.
Ministers Navin Dissanayake and Daya Gamage held separate meetings with representatives from the RPCs and trade unions on Thursday to settle the wage issue of the plantation workers.
Minister Dissanayake said Rs.940 is insufficient. We hope that RPC will agree to increase the daily wage up to Rs.1,000 soon.
The Minister asked the plantation companies in the discussion to agree to the Rs. 1,000 wage hike demanded by the workers.
The RPC representatives have asked more time to respond since they need to discuss the issue with their members.
The Ministers met plantation trade unions and briefed them on the progress of the discussions.
Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader Arumugam Thondaman, Muttu Sivalingam and the General Secretary of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers; Union, Vadivel Suresh, attended.
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