The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, first, on estate workers’ wages. The ruling party must understand: when we press for wage increases, it is for our voters and people; it is not against anyone. We supported the Budget on the basis of a fair wage and a Rs. 5 billion allocation, with a Rs. 1,750 daily wage promised by Government.

¶ 02 Since the 10th, in several places, this Rs. 1,750 has been paid; I do not deny that. However, we have consistently asked to see the agreement that was signed by the parties concerned. Paying wages while stripping workers’ protective safeguards is a grave mistake. The agreement has been signed on that basis by the plantation companies and the Secretaries of the Plantation and Labour Ministries. Journalists have asked for it; it has not been released. Trade unions, through the NLAC and other channels, have requested disclosure; we have not received it. Civil organizations sought it under the Right to Information; still not provided. The Government must table the very document it signed.

¶ 03 Regarding this document, I must state: it is not a proper collective agreement; it is merely a Memorandum of Understanding. I table the MoU. Hon. Minister, I expect a reply. Clause 4.1 states that service gratuity will be paid only if a worker completes 180 days of work. Long before the Hon. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe took office, we opposed this 180-day condition repeatedly at the Wages Board, speaking for workers—something he knows well.

¶ 04 I have twice delivered wage increases—Rs. 250 and Rs. 350—and on both occasions companies demanded the 180-day condition for gratuity. This MoU contains that same clause (4.1), which I table. I earnestly request the Government not to accept this condition; accepting it would severely disadvantage workers. I say this not politically but as a trade unionist. Given current realities, a worker cannot easily secure 25 days of work per month from an estate manager. Some companies deliberately stop workers at around 175 days and reset the count. Under Sri Lankan labour law, after 180 consecutive days, a worker must be registered. Companies resist registration to avoid liabilities—EPF, ETF, gratuity, maternity and death benefits—calculated on the basic wage.

¶ 05 Estate managers therefore engineer interruptions to prevent workers reaching 180 consecutive days and thus avoid registering and paying full benefits. This must not be allowed. I urge the Government to protect workers’ rights and ensure transparency by publishing the MoU and removing such harmful conditions.