Thondaman to muscle political support for wage hike

In addition, the workers union is attempting to exert pressure on the government to agree to a basic wage of Rs.1200 to be submitted as a budget proposal.

In this respect, Mr. Thondaman said that they would hold discussions with all political parties to gain their support for this “genuine cause” and obtain an increase in the basic wages of estate workers upto Rs.1200 through a budget proposal.

Failing these conditions, CWC sources said the CWC would obtain the support of the opposition to attempt to defeat the budget.

The last discussion between the RPCs and the worker unions was held on Tuesday at the Employers Federation of Ceylon office at Rajagiriya and the next scheduled meeting will be held tomorrow (Monday) at 3 pm.

At present the number of workers on the plantations has dwindled to about 150,000 with workers increasingly looking for jobs outside the estates for higher pay and better working conditions.