The daily wage of plantation workers employed by the Elkaduwa Plantations Company in Matale has been increased to Rs.1,700.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced on May 1, during the May Day rally at the Kotagala Public Grounds organized by the Labour Congress, that the daily wage of plantation workers would be raised to Rs.1,700.
Following this, the government issued a special gazette notification to increase the wages of plantation workers, effective from April 30th.
It is noteworthy that the Elkaduwa Plantations Company has taken steps to provide the increased wages to its employees on 10th of June despite the fact that several estate owners have expressed their inability to pay the higher wages and have even taken legal action.
This wage increase will benefit 1,500 plantation workers employed under the Elkaduwa Plantations Company. In addition to the Rs.1,700 wage, an additional Rs.202.50 for ETF and EPF contributions will bring the total wage increase to Rs.1,902.50, Elkaduwa Plantations Company Chairman Sumith Jayaratne said.
