Estate workers block main roads in Hatton

Colombo (News1st): Estate workers in the Hatton area in Nuwara Eliya are engaged in a protest to highlight their battle for higher daily wages. The protestors are blocking the Hatton - Colombo, Hatton - Nuwara Eliya main road. An agreement was to be signed today (Jan 28) to increase the daily salary of estate workers from Rs. 500 to Rs. 700. The Estate Trade Unions Collective said that they will not sign the collective agreement in this regard. They charge that though the daily salary has been increased from Rs. 500 to Rs. 700 several allowances that were granted in the previous collective agreement have been cut off through the latest one. The protestors demand that the salary is increased to Rs 1000. Heavy traffic was reported along the Hatton  - Colombo and the Hatton - Nuwara Eliya roads. When News 1st inquired regarding the matter State Minister Vadivel Suresh the Chairman of the National Estate workers union said that discussions are being carried out to sign the collective agreement with amendments.