RPCs raise Deepavali festival advances for plantation workforce by up to 25%

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) yesterday said that the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) have raised the festival advances for their workers, with the increase beginning ahead of this year’s Deepavali holiday.

According to the PA, all RPC field workers will receive a festival advance of Rs.25,000, up 25 percent from the previous Rs.20,000, while the RPC staff will see an increase of 20 percent, bringing their advance from Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000.

“The RPCs made this decision proactively, acknowledging the cultural significance of Deepavali for their workforce,” said PA Secretary General Lalith Obeyesekere. 

“This increase, aligned with the recent wage adjustments, underscores the RPCs’ ongoing commitment to supporting the employees and ensuring they can celebrate the season with added financial security.”

The enhanced advances follow a recent wage agreement that raised the plantation worker wages from Rs.1,000 per day to Rs.1,350, alongside a productivity component that rewards additional earnings for the output above the estate norms. 

Even prior to this increase, the Sri Lankan tea harvesters ranked among the highest paid globally, excluding the cost of housing, healthcare and other welfare provisions supplied by the RPCs, the PA said.