August 13, Colombo (LNW): A decision was made yesterday to set a minimum daily wage of Rs. 1,700 for estate workers in the tea and rubber industries. This decision was finalized by the Wages Board responsible for the estate sector under the Labour Department.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe had earlier announced plans to convene the Wages Board to discuss the wage increase for plantation workers and expressed his willingness to introduce special laws if necessary to ensure the implementation of the new Rs. 1,700 daily wage.
During the Wages Board meeting yesterday, a vote was conducted, resulting in an agreement to allocate Rs. 1,350 as the minimum basic daily salary and an additional Rs. 350 as a special attendance promotion allowance for estate workers.
The government had previously decided to raise the daily minimum wage to Rs. 1,700, a move opposed by several plantation companies, citing financial constraints. This decision was later challenged in the Supreme Court, leading to the cancellation of the Gazette notification that mandated the wage increase. The Court subsequently ordered that the minimum daily wage be determined by the Wages Board.
