CWC appeals to TUS in plantation sector

Support for estate workers’ demand for Rs. 1000 daily wage

The Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) appealed to all the trade unions in the plantation sector to give their support to estate workers who were fighting for a just cause in the face of the ongoing crisis.

In his letter, CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman said, “As you are aware the Ceylon Worker’s Congress along with Lanka Jathika Estate Workers’ Union and Joint Plantation Trade Union Centre are the three Trade Unions which negotiate wage increments for the plantation workers and worked tirelessly towards signing the Collective Agreement. The last Collective Agreement for the period 2016 to 2018 was signed on October 18, 2016 to be effective from October 15, 2016 for a period of two years.

Though the CWC along with other constituent Trade Unions were engaged in several rounds of wage talks with the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, no agreement could be reached as the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon would only offer an increase of Rs. 100/- basic wage from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 600/-.

The demand of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress along with other two constituent Trade Unions was Rs. 1000/- basic wage irrespective of any other allowances,” he wrote.

Later, he said that two rounds of talks were held between CEOS of the Regional Plantation Companies and himself and he had thereafter instructed the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon to come up with a reasonable offer December 3.

He said since there was no progress made by the said date on this matter, the CWC had decided to take Trade Union action towards obtaining a wage increase for plantation workers covered by the Collective Agreements in respect of the Tea Growing and Manufacturing Trade and Rubber Growing and Manufacturing.

He said plantation workers are on strike indefinitely until their demand for a basic wage of Rs. 1000 was achieved. “We wish to point out that the last Collective Agreement provided for a basic wage of Rs. 500/- along with attendance incentive of Rs. 60/-, price share supplement of Rs. 30/- and production incentive of Rs. 140/- amounting to Rs. 730/-. The above mentioned wages were very subjective since many of the workers do not get this production incentive of Rs. 140/- in view of the fact that the Estate Managements dubiously deny this allowance, stating that the workers have not achieved the norm.

As you would agree the present food basket value is about Rs. 812/- and the worker has other commitments of expenditure such as health, education, clothing etc. Therefore their demand for a Rs. 1000/- basic wage is justifiable and reasonable.

Hence we appeal to all Trade Unions to render their fullest support and co-operation in pressurizing the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon and the Government to end this gross exploitation and inhuman wage scales to the plantation workers and to ensure that plantation workers receive a decent basic wage of Rs. 1000/- per day,” he said.