A collective agreement between the Ceylon Estate Staff Union (CESU) and the Employer’s Federation of Ceylon (EFC) was signed last Friday (11), granting a 30% pay hike to the estate staff.
Speaking to The Morning, CESU General Secretary Robert Francis said yesterday (13) that the agreement was signed between his union and the EFC on 11 November.
“We agreed to a 30% salary increment. Accordingly, a 25% hike will be in effect from 1 October, and the balance 5% will come into effect from 2024,” he added.
During last Friday’s discussion, both parties agreed for an annual increment and an increment on house rental allowances, he said.
“Some of the companies have already paid a 25% salary hike from October. Therefore, we decided to sign the agreement with a 30% increment following amicable discussions,”
From the CESU, President Nishantha Wanniarachchi, Treasurer Suthakar Marimuttu, Deputy President Danuka Wijegunawardena, and General Secretary Francis were present, while from the EFC, Plantation Group Deputy Chairman Shanaka Samadivakara, Director General Vajira Ellapola, and others signed the agreement.
Accordingly, the CESU initially in September, demanded for a 70% pay hike blaming the ongoing economic crisis; however the EFC only agreed to a 25% increment.
There are three categories of collective agreements signed in the estate sector, namely the executive agreement, the staff agreement, and the labour agreement. The agreement between the CESU and EFC falls under the staff agreement category.