Estate unions, employers key talks tomorrow

L. S. A. Wedaarachchi

A decisive meeting between the upcountry plantation trade unions and their employers is to be held tomorrow evening to discuss the trade union's demand of a Rs. 500 pay hike said Ceylon Workers' Congress spokesman R. Yogarajan.

He said that the Joint Plantation Trade Unions consisting of the Ceylon Workers Congress and Lanka Estate Workers Union launched a non cooperation campaign demanding a Rs. 500 pay hike for plantation workers last week. A discussion was held on August 31 between the Employers Association and the plantation trade unions. The discussion ended without reaching a decision. Plantation Minister D. M. Jayaratne revealed that the tea industry was incurring a loss of Rs. 400 million a week due to the upcountry workers' protest campaign. He said that the government will have to intervene if the present situation continues damaging the tea sector.

Estate workers are currently paid Rs. 200 a day inclusive of a fixed wage supplement of Rs. 20 and Rs. 70 as attendance allowance. They demand that the daily wage be increased to Rs. 500 in view of high cost of living.