Initiate talks to raise estate worker wages - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday directed Labour Minister Athauda Seneviratne and Ministry Secretary Mahinda Madihewa to meet the Plantation Company owners and open immediate discussions to explore the possibility of increasing the wages for estate workers.

President Rajapaksa met the representatives of the estate sector in Nuwara Eliya on Friday. Later a meeting was held between the Minister and the leaders of estate worker unions. There was also a meeting scheduled between the Minister and the Plantation Company owners yesterday.

Although there is a collective agreement between the Plantation Companies and the trade unions, the rising cost of living and the long service rendered by the estate workers to this country should be taken into consideration the President told the Plantation company owners during his meeting on Friday. The total current wage of an estate worker is Rs.260 per day.