In the wake of price hike and the resultant increase in the cost of living, the salaries of employees in public service and private sector are revised from time to time.

But, the estate workers have been paid meager wages for years without any adjustment to keep pace with the price hike and increasing cost of living. The workers complain that every successive government has failed to address its mind to the question of the wages of estate workers.

People are unaware of the fact that the wage earned by an estate worker after working a whole day is not equivalent to what an employee in the town earns in an hour.

Generally, employees in both private and private sector speculate an increase in their salary structure with the presentation of budget every year. But, it is not the case with the estate worker. It has been their grievance that their economic interests are not considered in the budget proposals.

Meanwhile the negotiations between the trade unions and the Employers’ Federation over the issue of wages of plantation workers have reached a deadlock. A demand was submitted to the Federation of Employers to pay an aggregate daily wage of RS 295 to every plantation worker. But it is learnt that the Employers’ Federation has turned down this demand.

Following the decision of the Employers’ Federation, Minister Thondaman has stated that the trade unions don’t propose to waste their time on negotiations with the Federation and that he proposes to discuss with all parties and trade unions and take a firm decision.

It is the sad story of the estate workers that at every turn they have to fight and get their wages. They don’t get wages according to their quantum of work.

Therefore plantation workers must explore avenues to solve all their problems through a meaningful strategy. Otherwise there will not be an atmosphere where they can live with honour.

The estate workers work with dedication but they don’t get an adequate wage. That is the misery of the estate workers. It is but fair that the Employers’ Federation consider the wage increase demanded by the estate workers in the right perspective. They must take into account the justice in their demand for the wage increase.

We stress that it is through the solidarity and unity of all trade unions in the estate sector that an increase in the wage structure can be won.

An English translation of the Editorial in Virakesari, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed