(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – The Cabinet of Ministers that met yesterday presided by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has taken a firm decision on raising the daily minimum wage of plantation workers to Rs.1000, possibly through the Wages Boards.
The Cabinet is reported to have reached this decision after discussing at length a Cabinet Memorandum submitted by Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The ministers have pointed out that a wage hike for estate workers was one of the main pledges of the Government. It was noted at the Cabinet Meeting that the wage hike has been hampered by Collective Agreements and that Wages Boards could be a solution. Upon learning that the Finance Ministry has requested a one-week period to study the matter, President Rajapaksa has expressed the view that the Cabinet should come to an agreement on the issue at yesterday’s meeting itself.
Hence the Cabinet has granted approval to implement the wage hike through the Wages Boards.
