A group of plantation workers attached to the Maskeliya Plantation Company staged a protest this morning (18) in front of the tea factory at the Brunswick Tea Estate, calling for an increase in their daily wage to Rs. 2,000.
The protesting workers, who participated irrespective of trade union affiliations, told the media that the current daily wage of Rs. 1,300 is insufficient to meet the rising cost of living. They further stated that although successive governments have promised to raise their wages during discussions with plantation companies, those pledges have not been implemented.
The demonstrators also urged President’s direct intervention to ensure that the daily wage of estate workers is increased to Rs. 2,000 through the upcoming second budget. They pointed out that despite the current government being in power for a year and pledging to increase wages, the commitment has yet to be fulfilled.
