Workers' protest on Sri Lankan plantations continues

  Sri Lankan plantation workers continued their go slow protest campaign on Monday, unions said adding however that June month wages were paid by regional plantation companies last Friday. It was pointed out however, that the new concern in addition to the demand for a wage hike was for payments to be made during the days when the go slow campaign was carried out. Union leader for the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers and State Minister for Plantation K. Velayuthan told the Business Times said that currently some estates were back to normal whereas others were engaged in the go slow drive. He pointed out that the management had agreed and paid workers their last month’s wages however; they were now insisting that they would not be paid on days when workers were engaged in the go slow campaign. In this respect, the union leader and minister explained that the current crisis had impacted both the estates and the workers. Mr. Velayuthan also said that some estates had refused to allow workers to come in to work and that for last few days some of the upcountry factories remained closed. Planters Association Secretary General Malin Hapugoda told the Business Times that they had proposed an increase in the basic wage from Rs.420 to Rs.500 and an increase in the per kilo plucked from Rs.23 to Rs.40. However, unions were said to have opposed this idea mooted by the plantation owners stating that the increase should be in the overall wage that would mean basic wage plus incentives to add upto Rs.1000. Discussions between workers and companies where broke down on Friday is due to resume on Wednesday. (SD)