RPCs ready to scrap collective agreement
Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) are preparing to scrap the Collective Agreement although the estate unions say this is not warranted as talks could still be centred on this if they could gain Rs.1000.
Former Planters Association Chairman and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Roshan Rajadurai told the Business Times on Tuesday that the RPCs were readying to withdraw from the Collective Agreement as they will be going in for the next round of meetings at the Wages Board on the discussion of wages for the estate workers.
He noted that all RPCs have decided to unanimously move out from the agreement as two systems cannot be carried out. If they engage workers with the wages board model then the Collective Agreement will be done away with.
Mr. Rajadurai pointed out that this wage system will mess up the entire system and that the reaction of the workers on the estates meting out violence against the managers and assistant managers inside their own bungalows was a well-coordinated incident.
Meanwhile Ceylon Workers Congress MP M. Rameshwaran noted that they were in agreement with the Collective Agreement and there is no need to go to the Wages Board had the RPCs agreed to giving Rs.1000 through this.
“We have not said we are doing away with the Collective Agreement,” he said adding that if the “people can get Rs.1000 then we are in agreement on anything”.
Employers Federation of Ceylon Acting Director General Vajira Ellepola said they were awaiting the next round of discussions with the parties next week.
The two parties are to meet tomorrow for the next round of discussions at the Wages Board.