The Ministry of Plantation, and Community Infrastructure is currently exploring the possibility of shifting from the current daily wage system to monthly salary payments for plantation workers.
Plantation workers, who play an important role in the country’s tea and rubber
industries, often face low wages and difficult working conditions.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Deputy Minister of Plantation, and Community Infrastructure Sundaralingam Pradeep said that plantation workers’ salaries should match the current cost of living. ‘Their wages need to be in line with the rising living expenses. We are discussing with the plantation companies and the other stakeholders about increasing their salaries.” He further said: “We are also considering the possibility of paying them a monthly salary. It is also being discussed at present.”
The salary issue of estate sector employees in Sri Lanka has been a long-standing issue. Over the past, when there were demands for salary increases for plantation workers, most of the employers have been expressing concerns over increased costs and operational challenges. Workers and trade unions, on the other hand, have been continuing to demand better pay and benefits to improve their quality of life.