Estate strike: Plantation Companies to announce "important decisions" today

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon which represents the business interests of the 22 Regional Plantation Companies (RPC’s), has convened a media briefing this afternoon (11) to announce "important decisions" taken by the RPCs in the wake of the on-going strike in the estate sector. 

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By Sandun Jayawardana

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon which represents the business interests of the 22 Regional Plantation Companies (RPC’s), has convened a media briefing this afternoon (11) to announce "important decisions" taken by the RPCs in the wake of the on-going strike in the estate sector. 

The decisions are to be announced following an indefinite strike called by estate sector unions demanding that the basic daily wage of an estate worker be increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1000. The strike, launched on December 4 entered its seventh day today and has crippled work in the estates. 

Up to now however, the RPCs have been firm that they are not prepared to go beyond their "final offer" of a 20% increase in the basic salary, which would increase a worker's daily wage to Rs 600. 

The PA has estimated that the ongoing strike action would cost the industry approximately Rs 240 - 250 million in losses each day in the tea and rubber industry. 

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