• Want plantation co.-employers to pay wage hike from profits, not via 2026 Budget 
• Also query how Rs. 200 daily attendance incentive will be practically paid as most ordinary workers don’t work 25 days a month

While welcoming the Government’s decision to increase the daily wage of plantation sector workers, the sector’s trade unions (TUs) noted the manner in which it was implemented does not set a good example regarding labour wages.

In this regard, the Voice of Plantation People organisation’s Executive Director Anthony Jesudasan explained that the burden of increasing the sector’s workers should be borne by employers, or plantation sector companies, and not the Government through the country’s Budget.

He told The Daily Morning: “This does not set a good example. If (plantations) companies are getting the profit entirely, the Government should give the responsibility (regarding wage hikes) to those companies. Instead of doing that, the Government promising to give a Rs. 200 wage hike is not a good thing. The Government’s responsibility is to get the companies to agree.”

In addition, he raised concerns about the proposed plan, as the Government’s proposal includes a Rs. 200 payment as a daily attendance incentive. He explained that while those working for 25 days a month are to receive Rs. 10,000 a month, ordinary workers do not work 25 days a month but only around 18-20/22 days a month. He added that in this context, there is an unclear situation regarding how the said attendance incentive will be paid.

Regarding the Government’s claim that the wage hike from the current Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,550 will be borne by plantation companies, and that the Government will complement it with an attendance incentive of Rs. 200 to reach the proposed Rs. 1,750 per day, Jesudasan alleged that there is no official report of plantation companies agreeing to increase daily wages by Rs. 200. He opined that if there is no such official agreement, it would lead to issues.

Attempts to contact the Planters’ Association of Ceylon and the Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry yesterday (10) were not successful.