A trade union leader who is also a public representative has alleged that the National People’s Power (NPP) government, which vowed to increase the daily wage of the country’s plantation sector workers who have worked tirelessly to strengthen the country’s economy for two centuries, has taken them for granted.
“This is because you have taken the plantation sector community for granted. I have said again and again in this House, don’t trust plantation companies as they will promise to increase wages but will create bigger issues through the back door," he said.
United National Party (UNP) Member of Parliament and Ceylon Workers’ Congress General Secretary Jeevan Thondaman recently revealed in Parliament that, instead of paying the Rs. 200 proposed by the government through the latest budget, plantation companies have increased the amount of tea leaves required per day.
“The Horana Plantation Company and the Talawakelle Plantation Company have increased the amount of tea leaves that should be plucked. It has been increased from 20 kg to 22, 23 kg. At the same time, in certain other parts of the plantation sector, plantation companies that required 20 kg are now demanding up to 26 kg. Is this the confidence you are giving us? Is this what we are getting in return for the Rs. 200 allowance that you are giving us?”
Presenting the budget proposals for the year 2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake informed Parliament last year that the daily wage of Rs. 1,350 paid to a plantation sector worker at the time would be increased to Rs. 1,750 with effect from January 2026.
That includes a Rs. 200 daily incentive paid by the government and a Rs. 200 allowance paid by plantation companies for each day worked.
MP Thondaman explained to Parliament how those promises have not been fulfilled thus far.
“You said that you would ensure a basic wage of Rs. 1,750. However, what is being paid today is only a basic salary of Rs. 1,550. The remaining Rs. 200 is a six-month allowance. Even that is acceptable to me; it is fine. You did not fulfill the promise you made to the plantation sector people. But you have given a basic salary of Rs. 1,550."
MP Thondaman also explained to Parliament the hardships in the professional lives of plantation sector workers, who have been working tirelessly to strengthen the country’s economy for two centuries without a wage commensurate with their labor.
“Today, some people may be holding flags in support of the government saying, ‘no, no, our President will do it, the President will do it.’ Let me tell you one thing. You may be a flag holder, someone who does not work in the plantation sector, someone sitting in this House, or even me… it is only those who climb mountains three times a day – morning, noon and evening – and pluck tea leaves know how difficult it is when they have to pluck even a single kilogram more.”
As pointed out by plantation sector trade unions, the daily wage of Rs. 1,750, which has remained an unfulfilled demand for several years, is not adequate at all in today’s economic conditions.
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