MINIMUM WAGE WILL BE IMPOSED FOR ESTATE WORKERS

Colombo (News 1st);  The Government will be compelled to impose a minimum wage for estate workers as per the provisions of the Wages Board Ordinance, if an agreement cannot be reached with respect to increasing the daily wages of estate workers to Rs.1000/-, warned Sri Lanka's Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The Minister had stressed on the matter at a meeting with the chairmen and representatives of estate trade unions on Friday (15). At the meeting, a final agreement was not reached with respect to increasing the daily wages of estate workers to Rs. 1000/-. According the Ministry of Labour, plantation owners were also present for the meeting, and despite multiple rounds of talks, the discussion ended without a decision being made. Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had said the matter would therefore be addressed via the Wages Board Ordinance. Accordingly, the concerns raised by the plantation owners will be discussed at the meeting between Cabinet Ministers. Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said thereafter, the daily wage of estate workers will be increased to Rs. 1000/-.