10 April 2021 12:05 am Views - 373
By Ranjith Rajapakse
Estate workers yesterday started receiving the increased daily wage of Rs.1000 approved by the Wage Board. It included the increase of basic salary to Rs.900 per day and the budget allowance to Rs.100.00.
General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress, State Minister Jeevan Thondaman told media that the estate workers were paid the wage increase of Rs.1000 as promised by the Government. He said all other facilities available to the workers would remain unchanged. He said he was planning to change the daily wage system and to replace it with a wage system favourable to the workers and the tea industry as well.
The wage board had granted approval to pay the wage increase after talks between the Department of Labour, the estate companies and the estate sector trade unions. However the estate companies had suspended this month, the payment for plucking an extra quantity of leaves.