Estate workers union of Sri Lanka calls for monthly wages for workers

The All Ceylon Estate Workers' Union affiliated to Sri Lanka's Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) demands monthly wages for estate workers. Head of the ACEWU, Ramalingam Chandrasekar said the union has commenced a campaign to demand monthly wages for the plantation workers.
He noted that the union has commenced awareness programmes in the estate sector on the demand for a monthly wage and its benefits. Chandrasekar explained that estate workers are currently paid a daily wage of Rs. 380 and the allowances that have been promised are not included in it. According to Chandrasekar, steps need to be taken to pay a monthly salary to the estate workers like in other sectors inclusive of the allowances. He added that the collective agreement between several trade unions and employers has been signed in March 2011 and the next agreement on increasing wages would be signed in 2013. "Estate workers until then would have to battle for survival with a rising cost of living," Chandrasekar said.