• TPA leaders asks govt to first increase wage in State plantations

Welcoming the Government’s announcement regarding increasing plantation sector workers’ daily wage subject to the wage formula, the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) questioned the practical aspects of the Government’s plans.

A statement issued by the Office of TPA Leader Mano Ganesan said: “Today, the basic wage is Rs. 1,350. The question remains – is the President planning to increase the basic wage, or will the rise come through additional allowances such as norms, attendance, and other incentives? I call upon the President to first increase the wages of workers in the three state plantation companies before negotiating with private Regional Plantation Companies (RPC).”

The statement quoted Ganesan as saying: “It is a fact that only the basic wage attracts Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) contributions, not the allowances. The permanent stance of RPCs has always been rigid: they are prepared to pay more if workers meet higher norms. Their formula is simple – “more norms, more pay.” So, if the President’s formula follows this approach, it is nothing new. 

However, workers often fail to meet higher norms because the crop has been neglected for decades, resulting in fewer leaves and lower productivity. The TPA’s position, as per our MoU with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) alliance, remains firm: workers should be turned into partners. This can be achieved through smallholder cooperatives, with the Government entering into a tripartite pact between government, workers, and companies.”