Former State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told journalists that the daily wage of workers engaged in the tea industry will be increased to Rs. 900 this month and to the promised Rs. 1,000 by May. Even at present, tea smallholders pay a wage of over Rs. 1,000 per day to their workers, but tea estate and factory owners have said that increasing the daily wage to the promised Rs. 1,000 would not be a problem if the workers are more productive.
The estate owners have also proposed an out-grower system which will boost the workers’ income.
Wijesekera said that each year the tea industry is affected by either drought or floods for which the government is compelled to pay compensation.
He added that if rainwater is managed properly, the drought will not affect the crops.
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