Plantation companies have claimed they will review the welfare offered to plantation workers, Vice Chairman of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) Senthil Thondaman said.
Thondaman told NewsWire, that this was a threat to plantation workers.
The Wages Board recently approved the request of plantation workers for a daily wage of Rs. 1000.
He said following this development, Plantation Companies have announced that they will review the welfare provided to plantation workers.
Senthil Thondaman said this move has been taken as the plantation companies do not want to compromise on their profits.
He said if plantation workers are pushed to their limits by plantation companies then it will result in the companies facing a massive loss and a halt in the plantation industry.
Commenting on the wages issue, the Vice Chairman of the CWC said some plantation companies have already commenced the payment of the approved daily wage of Rs. 1000.
He said the companies that are delaying the payment will have to face legal consequences, while plantation trade unions too will resort more strike actions.
Stating that companies can follow legal formalities and order plantation workers to work under the earlier regulations of Rs. 750 for 08-hours, Thondaman said however, the companies cannot demand the kilo weight of the produce.
He said therefore, this will only result in plantation workers completing their 08-hour shift, collecting only one or two kilos of the produce, when earlier over 16 kilos were collected per day.
Voicing doubt that any company would want such a drastic drop in produce, Thondaman said he hopes all plantation companies will adhere to the Government’s decision and will commence paying the approved daily wage of Rs. 1000 soon.
He warned that if plantation companies continue to delay, plantation workers will drastically reduce the kilos of produce collected on a daily basis.
The CWC Vice Chairman further said it was not advisable to retreat on a deal already agreed to by all stakeholders and approved by the Government.
Senthil Thondaman said he hopes plantation companies will adhere to the agreement, and implement it at the earliest. (NewsWire)