The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Hon. Minister, today’s Orders will raise the National Minimum Wage of employees to Rs. 27,000 by December, from Rs. 21,000, and from next January to Rs. 30,000. We support this. However, in doing so, you have overlooked the 41st pledge in your policy statement “A Prosperous Country - A Beautiful Life” to provide a daily wage of Rs. 1,700 to the upcountry and low-country plantation community. I draw attention to Section 20(1) of the Wages Boards Ordinance No. 27 of 1941, which provides for determining minimum wages in industries, and to Section 4A of Act No. 72 of 1981 on allowances for agricultural workers, under which the Wages Board decisions determine the plantation wage.

¶ 02 Thus, while one segment of the population will receive Rs. 27,000 by year-end, rising to Rs. 30,000 in January, you have forgotten the plantation community—tea, rubber, coconut and other export crop sectors. If not forgotten, then look at your policy’s 41st pledge. Independent surveys show only a small fraction of your pledges have been fulfilled so far. When will you implement the pledge of a Rs. 1,700 daily wage for plantation workers? Today, Hon. Mano Ganesan, V.S. Radhakrishnan and Palani Digambaram are presenting an amendment to implement the Rs. 1,700 daily wage. Will the Government support it and ensure justice for the plantation community?