Plantation companies turn down govt. request for Rs 5,000 salary increase

Plantation companies have told Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva that they weren’t in a position to grant Rs 5,000 salary increase to estate sector workers.

A senior Labour Ministry spokesman told The Island that plantation companies explained the difficulties experienced by them at a meeting called by Minister de Silva at the Labour Department to discuss the proposed salary increment.

The government has requested the private sector to grant Rs 5,000 salary increase in the wake of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa announcing a relief package, inclusive of Rs 5,000 salary increase to the public sector, in addition to increase in pensions as well as Samurdhi benefits.

The plantation companies have pointed out that already the increasing of daily wages of workers to Rs 1,000 has caused severe pressure on their financial situation.

When Minister de Silva asked whether the plantation companies could at least grant a part of the proposed increase, they emphasised that wouldn’t be realistic under the present situation. They insisted they were in a desperate situation and therefore, the government request couldn’t be met. (SF)