Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyaratna, said that the government does not possess the legal authority to unilaterally increase the wages of plantation workers, emphasising that wage revisions must be negotiated between estate owners and trade unions through the upcoming collective agreement process.
With regard to public expectations following pledges made during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s budget speech, Minister Vidyaratna said that the President’s comments on plantation wage hikes were a reflection of the government’s commitment to facilitating dialogue and not a direct policy directive.
Noting that several rounds of discussions have already been held between the government and estate management companies, he said the Dissanayake administration remains focused on achieving a daily wage of Rs. 1,700 for plantation workers before the end of the year.
However, while the National People’s Power was in the opposition and during previous national election campaigns, they had consistently accused past governments of colluding with estate owners to delay wage increases.
Leave a comment